26″ January “2022 ” SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
Updates:5 mins ago (22:29 GMT)
US President Joe Biden has said he would consider imposing economic sanctions personally targeting Vladimir Putin if the Russian president orders a new attack on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged European allies to have sanctions ready to go if Russia invades Ukraine.
“We have a hard-hitting package of sanctions ready to go and what I think it would be fair to say is we want to see our European friends ready to deploy that package as soon as there should be any incursion at all by Russia into Ukraine,” Johnson said in a statement to parliament on Tuesday.
Russia has massed some 100,000 troops within reach of Ukraine’s border, but denies planning an invasion. Instead, it has cited the Western response to its military buildup as evidence that Russia is the target of aggression
On Monday, Washington put 8,500 troops on heightened alert for possible deployment to Eastern Europe, potentially at very short notice, and other NATO member states moved to boost their security presence in the region. Moscow hit back at that move, saying the United States was escalating tensions
Key US Republican says Congress will sanction Putin
Key Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham has vowed that Congress will impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin for amassing troops near the Ukrainian border.
“Congress, I think in a bipartisan fashion, is going to sanction Putin for the disruption to the world order by the military buildup, not invasion,” Graham told The Brian Kilmeade Show on Tuesday.
The senator, a foreign policy hawk and frequent critic of President Joe Biden, added that Congress will also agree to send “more weapons” to Ukraine
Spain says sanctions against Russia would be ‘forceful’ if needed
Spain vowed to support a “massive, forceful package” of economic measures against Russia if it launches military action against Ukraine, its foreign minister has said
Jose Manuel Albares said that European nations had resources other than force to dissuade Russia from any military intervention in the neighbouring country, including ones that would have “massive economic consequences and high costs” for Russia.
“I can assure you that it will be a massive, forceful package [of sanctions],” Albares told Spain’s parliament on Tuesday night
UK urges European allies to ready Russia sanctions
The UK has urged its European allies to have sanctions ready to go if Russia invades Ukraine and said Western unity was vital to deter Moscow.
“We have a hard-hitting package of sanctions ready to go and what I think it would be fair to say is we want to see our European friends ready to deploy that package as soon as there should be any incursion at all by Russia into Ukraine,” Johnson said in a statement to parliament.
“It is absolutely vital that … the West is united now, because it is our unity now that will be much more effective in deterring any Russian aggression.”
US warns Belarus against helping Russia invade Ukraine
The United States has warned Belarus of “swift and decisive response” if it assists ally Russia in invading neighbouring Ukraine We’ve also made clear to Belarus that if it allows its territory to be used for an attack on Ukraine, it would face a swift and decisive response from the United States and our allies and partners,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters
US backs European talks with Russia
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price has voiced support for European engagements with Russia, saying that Washington and its allies are united in seeking a diplomatic resolution in the crisis in Ukraine.
“We know the fact that our allies and partners are engaged in diplomacy and dialogue. To us, that’s a good thing,” Price told reporters on Tuesday. “But it is incumbent in all of this on the Russian Federation to take steps to demonstrate that dialogue and diplomacy are viable.”
Price’s comments come ahead of a phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, set for Friday.
Situation in eastern Ukraine ‘under control’: Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has addressed the nation and said decisions made Monday in a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council show that “everything is under control, there is no reason to panic
He said the main topic on the agenda was the situation in eastern Ukraine and authorities are doing their best to de-escalate and find a peaceful settlement of the issue.
“We are aware of everything; we are ready for everything; we believe in the best; and we do everything to this end together with our partners, our diplomats, and most importantly, our military,” he said
Escalated conflict would keep inflation higher longer: IMF
An escalated conflict between Russia and Ukraine would likely further increase energy costs and commodities prices for many countries, keeping headline inflation rates elevated for longer, a top International Monetary Fund official has said.
First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath told Reuters the situation now is far different than in 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine, and energy prices fell quite sharply amid low demand and ample shale gas supplies.
“This time around … if this conflict were to happen, you would see an increase in energy prices,” Gopinath told Reuters in an interview, noting the current crisis was unfolding in the European winter and natural gas reserves were much lower in Europe.
US says it incorporates Ukraine feedback in written response to Russian demands
The US has solicited Ukraine’s feedback and incorporated it into its written response to Russia’s security demands, a US Department of State spokesperson has said
Biden: Attack on Ukraine could be ‘largest invasion’ since WWII
A Russian incursion into Ukraine could become the “largest invasion” since World War II given the massive troop presence near the border, according to Biden.
Such an event would “change the world,” he told reporters
Putin meeting with Italy business elite to go ahead
A meeting between Putin and the heads of some of Italy’s top companies to boost business ties between the two countries is set to go ahead on Wednesday, despite rising tensions over Ukraine.
The meeting, originally scheduled for November, will be via a video link and feature top managers at comp壯陽藥 anies like energy group Eni power giant Enel and lender UniCredit
Italy is one of the leading exporters to Russia and the idea is to stimulate dialogue between the sides,” one of the organisers said, confirming the event
Russia begins combat readiness inspection: Report
Russia has begun combat readiness inspections involving more than 6,000 troops in its southern military district, which borders Ukraine, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency quotes the country’s military as saying.
US plane brings Javelin missiles and launchers to Ukraine
A US plane carrying Javelin anti-tank missiles, launchers and other military hardware has landed in Kyiv, the third shipment of a $200m security package
Javelins in Kyiv! A new cargo of security aid – launchers & missiles – with a total weight of about 80 tons. We expect the arrival of the 4th from the big flock of birds soon,” Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov tweeted
US plane delivers military equipment, munitions to Ukraine
A US plane carrying military equipment and munitions has landed in Kyiv, the third shipment of a $200m security package aimed at shoring up Ukraine amid the threat of a possible Russian invasion.
“Our partners are increasing the amount of military assistance. And today, we are meeting the third aircraft from the United States government as part of this assistance,” Ukranian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told reporters before the plane landed.
Washington has committed more than $650m in security assistance to Ukraine in the past year and more than $2.7bn in total since 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.
Biden says ‘no intention’ of US or NATO forces entering Ukraine
US President Joe Biden said he has “no intention” of sending US troops into Ukraine, but again warned Russia of severe sanctions if Moscow orders an attack.
Speaking to reporters, Biden said he has “no intention of putting American forces or NATO forces in Ukraine”.
Top US Senate Republican says Biden ‘moving in the right direction’
US Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a frequent critic of President Joe Biden, has said that he is seeing “encouraging” signs from the administration about its approach to deterring further Russian aggression towards Ukraine
McConnell said Biden now appears to be adopting the right approach to Ukraine following a weekend meeting with his security team at Camp David. McConnell last week said Biden had “telegraphed passivity and weakness” on the issue.
“What I’ve been hearing since then is encouraging, that they’re prepared to take steps before an incursion, not afterwards,” McConnell said at a news conference in Frankfort, Kentucky.
“It appears to me the administration is moving in the right direction,” he added.
Ukraine’s leader offers calm but no ‘childish illusions’ about Russia threat
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged people to stay calm about the threat of a Russian attack and said there was work in progress to bring about a meeting between him and the leaders of Russia, France and Germany.
In a televised video address, Zelenskyy said this week’s withdrawal of personnel from Western embassies in Kyiv did not signal that a military escalation with Russia was inevitable
There are no rose-coloured glasses, no childish illusions, everything is not simple … But there is hope,” Zelenskyy said. “Protect your body from viruses, your brain from lies, your heart from panic.”
Germany’s Scholz warns Russia after meeting Macron
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned Russia of the consequences of an attack on Ukraine after he met French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the crisis and other issues in Berlin.
“There are many troops stationed [along Ukrainian-Russian border] and therefore it is necessary that everything is now done to ensure that the situation develops differently than is sometimes feared at present,” Scholz said.
“We therefore also expect clear steps from Russia that contribute to a de-escalation of the situation, and we all agree that military aggression would have serious consequences.”
Chancellor Scholz defends Germany’s engagement
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has defended Germany’s record on supporting Ukraine, responding to criticism of Berlin’s refusal to follow other Western countries in sending Kyiv lethal weapons to defend itself against a possible Russian invasion.
“We have done a great deal to actively support economic development and democratic development in Ukraine,” he told a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, adding that there were historical reasons for Germany’s refusal to send lethal weapons to warzones.
“We feel responsible, for example, for ensuring that Ukraine remains a [gas] transit country,” he added. “Ukraine knows it can rely on Germany.”
NATO to determine troop posture regarding Ukraine: US official
NATO will make all decisions on possible movement of troops amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine crisis, US Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer has said.
“The alliance will make decisions about force posture adjustments, but they are ready to go at a moment’s notice when the alliance decides,” he told CNN in an interview
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SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
