Britain warns Russia over Ukraine: we’re working on high-impact sanctions

0
46

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain warned Moscow on Thursday that it was working with Western companions on high-impact sanctions targetting Russia’s monetary sector ought to it invade Ukraine.

Russia has massed some 100,000 troops close to Ukraine’s border and although Moscow says it has no plans to invade its neighbour, President Vladimir Putin has demanded legally-binding ensures that NATO won’t broaden additional eastwards.

“We won’t settle for the marketing campaign Russia is waging to subvert its democratic neighbours,” Foreign Secretary Liz Truss instructed parliament. “They have falsely solid Ukraine as a risk to justify their aggressive stance.”

“Russia is the aggressor right here,” Truss mentioned. “NATO has at all times been a defensive alliance.”

Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, drawing sanctions and condemnation from the West. Kyiv desires the territory again.

Truss mentioned that any additional army incursion into Ukraine by Russia would convey “large penalties, together with coordinated sanctions to impose a extreme value on Russia’s pursuits and economic system.”

“The UK is working with our companions on these sanctions, together with excessive influence measures focusing on the Russian monetary sector and people,” Truss mentioned.

Putin says NATO’s growth eastwards for the reason that 1991 fall of the Soviet Union is a risk to Russia which, he says, has nowhere left to retreat to. He has warned the West in opposition to ignoring his considerations.

Truss mentioned she would go to Kyiv later this month and that the scenario was reaching a vital second with just one manner ahead: for Putin to step again from the brink.

“It’s important that NATO is united in pushing again in opposition to Russia threatening behaviour,” Truss mentioned.

Britain, Truss mentioned, was against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea.

“Europe should scale back its dependence on Russian gasoline,” Truss mentioned. “Britain stays against Nord Stream 2 and I’m working with allies and companions to spotlight the strategic dangers of this undertaking.”

(Reporting by William James and Andy Bruce; modifying by Guy Faulconbridge and Alistair Smout)



Source link