THE MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale has given his perspective on Vladimir Putin part-mobilising his country to support the war effort in Ukraine. 

The President of Russia gave a televised address to the nation calling reservists up to the front line in Ukraine. 

The situation has changed rapidly in the war-torn country in the last few weeks as the Ukrainian forces have made huge gains. The Russian army has been pushed back from the lines that they consolidated in their initial offensive into the Donbas, revealing the extent of the chaos and destruction in the region from their time as occupiers. 

The Westmorland Gazette: Vladimir Putin gave a rare televised address to the nationVladimir Putin gave a rare televised address to the nation (Image: PA)

This included the discovery of a mass grave in the city of Izyum after the city was liberated. In the wake of all this, Putin for the first time officially mobilised reservists to join the war effort. In his address, Putin said that this was a necessary step to ensure territorial integrity in the region. His defence minister Sergei Shoigu said 300,000 men with combat experience would now be called up to fight. 

The Westmorland Gazette: The Russian line has been pushed back towards the DonbasThe Russian line has been pushed back towards the Donbas (Image: PA)

In response to this, Mr Farron said: "From what I can see, this is Putin speaking to his domestic audience because he is worried that the war and his handling of it are becoming unpopular, so the speech is a sign of weakness.

"Nonetheless we shouldn't underestimate Putin, especially if he is increasingly desperate and beleaguered. The UK, Europe and NATO must continue and step up support for Ukraine."

Recently, the Government has come under criticism for sending money and weapons to Ukraine, and for continuing to support sanctions when the country is going through a cost of living crisis. 

The Westmorland Gazette: Tim Farron said that we shouldn't underestimate PutinTim Farron said that we shouldn't underestimate Putin (Image: Tim Farron)

To this Mr Farron said: "We can't afford not to keep giving support, if we value freedom, democracy and peace. Also, the cost of living crisis is mostly not to do with Ukraine. It owes a lot more to our failure to invest in renewable,s trade friction, and a completely dysfunctional and unfair energy price system." 

The defence minister Ben Wallace also said that Putin's partial mobilisation is an admission that the war is failing.