Prince Charles has called on western countries to accept more refugees in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine.

On a visit to meet refugees and asylum seekers at a London church, the Prince also called for the skills and experience refugees bring with them to be utilised in the UK, where asylum seekers are not permitted to work.

“I cannot even begin to imagine the dreadful conditions, the suffering, the agony you have all had to endure on your way to arrive here in this country,” the Prince of Wales said.

“We have enormous skill shortages in this country, where so much of what you can do could be of enormous benefit. We are very lucky in many ways to have you and your skills and all you can bring,” he said.

The prince was meeting refugees from Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq as well as Ukraine at St Luke’s Church, in London. The visit in support of the work of the Anglican Church’s Refugee Response program.

The prince as met with Ukrainina father and daughter Andriy and Veronika Kopylash. Andriy, 55, was already in the UK when war broke out, and Veronika, 23, caught the last plane out of Ukraine to join her father.

“It was an absolute honour to meet he prince,” Andriy said, according to local reports.

“He was very open and there were tears in his eyes. He said he had begun plans to do more to help refugees. He said the situation was terrible and described it as crazy and madness.”

More than 2.5 million Ukrainians have now fled their homeland just two weeks after the conflict began.

Reports from the UNHCR say that thousands more are expected to follow in the coming days.

Prince Charles’ comments came amid rising criticism of the UK’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

The Financial Times described the UK’s refugee policy as “shameful”, while several refugee charities have slammed the government’s plans as vague and insufficient.

So far the UK has refused to match the EU’s decision to offer Ukrainians open sanctuary, instead operating a limited family reunification and humanitarian sponsorship system.

Instead, displaced Ukrainians have reported red tape and delays when applying for visas.

And the UK has signalled it will not offer refugee status to Ukrainians, but has promised to speed up family reunification.

While the majority of Europe has allowed Ukrainians to enter without visas, the UK has required visas through a confusing application process.

Ukrainians on temporary visas are currently not allowed to invite their family members to join in Britain.

And as of March 15 only about 1000 visas had been granted to Ukrainians.

In contrast, US President Joe Biden has said that America will welcome Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s invasion “with open arms”.

“We will make sure Ukraine has weapons to defend against an invading Russian force. We will. We will send money and food and aid to save the Ukrainian people,” President Biden said from the White House Friday.

“And I will welcome Ukrainian refugees — we should welcome them here with open arms if they need access,” he said.

Last week, the Biden administration also granted Ukrainians already in the US a Temporary Protected Status designation, which prevents them being deported and allows them work permits for 18 months.