Russia, UK tensions rise over threat of ‘very tough’ sanctions packages
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday that “if Britain puts new sanctions on us, our Parliament will want to—in fact will be obliged to—put analogous sanctions on those who make their career, ratings, popularity on the basis of Russophobia.”
The comment came after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday warned that Russia would face a “very, very tough” package of sanctions if Moscow invades Ukraine.
“What we’re doing is targeting particular Russian banks, Russian companies, and making sure that we take steps, take even more steps, to unseal the facade of Russian property holdings… whether in London or elsewhere,” Johnson said, according to Sky News.
“Unpeel the facade of Russian ownership of companies,” he reportedly added. “And also take steps to take Russian companies from raising capital on London financial markets.”
Ukrainians celebrate Day of Unity
A 200-meter long Ukrainian flag is unfolded at the Olympiyskiy stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday. As Western officials warned a Russian
invasion could happen as early as today, the Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called for a Day of Unity, with Ukrainians encouraged to raise Ukrainian flags across the country.
NATO: ‘At the moment, we have not seen any withdrawal of Russian forces’
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday cast doubt on claims by Russia that it’s drawing down some of its 150,000 troops along the border with Ukraine, saying that “at the moment, we have not seen any withdrawal of Russian forces.”
“If they really start to withdraw forces, that’s something we will welcome but that remains to be seen,” Stoltenberg added.
On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry released a video showing a trainload of armored vehicles moving across a bridge away from Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. A day earlier, the ministry reported the start of a pullback of troops following military exercises near Ukraine.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ukraine officials express skepticism over Russia de-escalation
Fox News correspondent Steve Harrigan reports from Kyiv on the Russian buildup at the Ukraine border.
Biden tries to assure Moscow that NATO expansion should not be viewed as threat
President Biden on Tuesday insisted that Moscow’s concern that NATO’s expansion is a security threat is unfounded and addressed the citizens in Russia, saying, “You are not our enemy, and I don’t believe you want a bloody, destructive war against Ukraine.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that he welcomed a security dialogue with the West, and his military reported pulling back some of its troops near Ukraine. But U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.S. had not verified Russia’s claim and that an invasion was still a distinct possibility.
“Two paths are still open,” Biden said. “But let there be no doubt: If Russia commits this breach by invading Ukraine, responsible nations around the world will not hesitate to respond. If we do not stand for freedom where it is at risk today, we’ll surely pay a steeper price tomorrow.” –With AP