Stand down, Vlad! Biden, Boris Johnson and other NATO leaders tell Putin he will face ‘unprecedented sanctions’ if Russia invades Ukraine as US puts 8,500 troops on standby and UK tells embassy staff to quit Kiev
- Downing St said ‘allies must enact swift retributive responses including unprecedented package of sanctions’
- NATO Secretary-General said leaders stand united in warning that an attack would provoke a tough response
- It came after online meeting with Biden, Boris Johnson and leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and EU
- Biden is finalising his plans to deploy US forces as Russia poises itself to invade Ukraine, new report revealed
Joe Biden, Boris Johnson and other NATO leaders today told Vladimir Putin he will face ‘unprecedented sanctions’ if Russia invades Ukraine as the US put 8,500 troops on standby and the UK told its embassy staff to quit Kiev.
The agreement was made following an online meeting between NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, the US President, UK Prime Minister and leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the European Union.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said that ‘should a further Russian incursion into Ukraine happen, allies must enact swift retributive responses including an unprecedented package of sanctions’ and that the leaders ‘resolved to continue co-ordinating closely on any such response.’
She added: ‘The leaders agreed on the importance of international unity in the face of growing Russian hostility. The Prime Minister underlined the real human cost of any Russian aggression and the need to take all steps within our power to prevent that outcome.
‘The leaders stressed that diplomatic discussions with Russia remain the first priority, and welcomed talks that have already taken place between Russia and Nato allies.
‘They also agreed that the international community should not tolerate any action which undermines Ukrainian sovereignty. The Prime Minister outlined the steps the UK has taken to increase Ukraine’s defensive capacity. He emphasised the need to support Ukraine’s defences against the full spectrum of malign Russian activity.’
Late on Monday, Stoltenberg said leaders stand united in their warning that a Russian attack would provoke a tough response, writing: ‘We agree that any further aggression by Russia against Ukraine will have severe costs.’
It follows Mr Johnson saying an invasion would be a ‘painful, violent and bloody business’ earlier on Monday as he admitted that the prospects of averting a confrontation in the area were ‘gloomy’.
Meanwhile, US Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said during a press conference this afternoon: ‘This is really about getting folks ready to go’. He added the majority of those troops would be ground forces.
Mr Kirby also said they would stand ready in case NATO activates the NATO Response Force or a ‘deteriorating security environment.’
He told reporters: ‘There’s not a mission per se, this is about [Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin] wanting to get ahead of the potential activation and making sure these units have time to prepare.’
Mr Kirby said the move was ‘sending a strong message that we’re committed to NATO and we’re committed to ensuring that our allies have the capabilities they need in case they need to defend themselves.’
However he stressed the troops are currently on ‘heightened alert’ posture and have no plans to deploy at this time.
It comes after reports that Biden is finalising his plans to deploy US forces as Russia poises itself to invade Ukraine, a new report revealed as the US president faces backlash from Ukraine for pulling embassy personnel and considers deploying up to 50,000 American troops.
Biden will speak with Transatlantic Allies and partners, including Mr Johnson, this afternoon to discuss his plan regarding the Ukraine-Russia conflict, according to the White House’s updated version of the US president’s daily schedule.
The secure video call with European leaders will be held in the Situation Room and will also include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, President Andrzej Duda of Poland.
Russia has stirred the pot by announcing live-fire naval drills off the coast of Ireland next month, amid rapidly escalating tensions with the West. There are concerns that any escalation of the stand-off will send gas prices spiralling again, with threats of punitive sanctions against Moscow.
Battleships will take part in sea drills around 150 miles off Ireland’s southwest coast, within the country’s ‘exclusive economic zone’ but outside its territorial waters.
Mr Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said NATO’s ‘increased activities near our borders cannot be ignored by our military, which is responsible for the security of our country’.
Foreign Minister Simon Coveney revealed that Russia informed Ireland about the drills at the weekend, saying the warships are ‘not welcome’ but his country ‘doesn’t have the power to stop this from happening’.
Under UN conventions governing the oceans, military drills are allowed within the economic zones of other states provided they do not stray into territorial waters.
The drill will form part of much broader Russian naval exercises involving 140 ships and 10,000 troops from all of its naval fleets that will take place in the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, North Sea and Sea of Okhotsk from January until February.
It comes against the backdrop of Russia’s troop build-up on the border of Ukraine, which has sparked fears of a war in Europe and a standoff between East and West.
Amid fears that an invasion is imminent, the UK began withdrawing diplomats from its mission in Kiev today – following a similar US move at the weekend.
As the stakes were dramatically raised in the standoff on Monday:
- Mr Johnson will have a call with allies including Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Olaf Scholz, Poland’s Andrzej Duda and Italy’s Mario Draghi tonight;
- Mr Biden is considering plans to deploy up to 5,000 US troops to the Baltic region which could ramp up to 50,000 along with warships and aircraft;
- A former UK national security adviser has complained that Mr Johnson has been ‘invisible’ on the Ukraine tensions because he is ‘mired in his domestic woes’;
- NATO deployed additional ships, troops and warplanes to the Baltics, following a call from Latvia’s foreign minister for ‘countermeasures’ against Russia;
- The Kremlin condemned NATO’s deployments, accusing the West of spreading ‘hysteria’ over a war in Ukraine – which he said is now more likely than even due to weapons shipments to the region;
- EU foreign ministers met in Brussels to put on united front against Russia, saying ‘never-before-seen’ sanctions await if it invades Ukraine;
- Ursula von der Leyen, EU commission president, said £1billion euro aid package is being prepared for Ukraine;
- Norway has urged against all-but essential travel to Ukraine as the situation threatens to spiral.
Late on Monday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said leaders stand united in their warning to Vladimir Putin that a Russian attack would provoke a tough response
He made the comment following an online meeting with the US President, UK Prime Minister and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the European Union
Ukrainian territorial volunteers take part in military training near Kiev at the weekend amid fears Russia could invade
Boris Johnson (right) has delivered a stark message to Vladimir Putin (left at the Kremlin today) as he admitted that the prospects of averting a confrontation in the area were ‘gloomy’.
Civilians training to resist any Russian invasion of Ukraine over the weekend. Left is 21-year-old Tatania, a veterinary medicine student
Russia is planning to hold live-fire naval drills off the Irish coast next month, with Dublin saying the ships are ‘not welcome’ (file image, Russian ships near Saint Petersburg last year)
Civilian volunteers who are part of the Ukrainian territorial army take part in training near Kiev at the weekend
The drills will take place 150 miles from Irelands’ south west coast, outside of its territorial waters but within its exclusive economic zone – which is permitted under international law
Britain will face even higher gas and petrol prices if Russia invades Ukraine
Britain could be forced to contend with record-breaking prices for gas and petrol if the fear of a Russian invasion of Ukraine becomes a reality, ministers have been told.
Government officials are concerned that Russia will restrict its provision of gas to European countries in the face of Western sanctions should an invasion of Ukraine take place.
Europe relies on Russia for around 35 per cent of its natural gas, the bulk of which comes through pipelines including Yamal, which crosses Belarus and Poland to Germany, Nord Stream 1, which goes directly to Germany, and routes through Ukraine.
Although Britain gets its gas from other sources, it would still be confronted with sky-high prices if Russia decided to restrict the flow of gas to Europe as the wholesale price of the resource would balloon.
‘Unlike some countries the UK hardly imports any Russian gas, but like all countries we are exposed to rising wholesale prices, which would be a significant issue if Russia further restricted supply,’ one senior official told The Times.
It comes as British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab yesterday promised Britain would impose harsh sanctions on Russia should President Vladimir Putin authorise an invasion.
Raab’s promise came after top US and Russian diplomats failed on Friday to make a major breakthrough in talks to resolve the crisis over Ukraine.
‘There’ll be very serious consequences if Russia takes this move to try and invade but also install a puppet regime,’ Mr Raab said.
Speaking on a visit to a hospital in Milton Keynes as NATO ministers held crisis talks in Brussels, Mr Johnson said the Kremlin must realise that Ukraine could be a ‘new Chechnya’.
‘The intelligence is very clear that there are 60 Russian battle groups on the borders of Ukraine, the plan for a lightning war that could take out Kyiv is one that everybody can see,’ he said.
‘We need to make it very clear to the Kremlin, to Russia, that that would be a disastrous step.’
The government has ruled out sending combat troops, but Mr Johnson said Britain is ‘leading on creating a package of economic sanctions’ against Russia and he would be speaking to international allies later.
‘We also need to get a message that invading Ukraine, from a Russian perspective, is going to be a painful, violent and bloody business,’ he said.
‘I think it’s very important that people in Russia understand that this could be a new Chechnya.’
Half of the UK’s diplomatic mission and their families will leave the country, after the US ordered families of its staff to go and offered non-essential embassy staff space on flights back home.
Just 30 British diplomats – including the ambassador – will remain in Ukraine.
Over the weekend, the State Department also recalled US embassy personnel from Ukraine over fears of invasion and warned private American citizens that they should immediately find their own way out of the country.
‘Given that the President has said military action by Russia could come at any time, the US government will not be in a position to evacuate US citizens,’ officials said during a State Department call on Sunday.
‘So US citizens, currently present in Ukraine should plan accordingly,’ they added, suggesting people arrange commercial flights.
Arizona pro-Trump Representative Andy Biggs tweeted: ‘Americans are still stranded in Afghanistan, and thanks to Biden, we can’t evacuate Americans from Ukraine.’
‘Biden is not only the America Last president, but the president who leaves Americans behind,’ he added.
He added in another tweet: ‘If you listen real close, you can hear Putin laughing from Russia…’
It was in response to a February 2020 from then-candidate Joe Biden who wrote at the time: ‘Vladimir Putin doesn’t want me to be President. He doesn’t want me to be our nominee. If you’re wondering why — it’s because I’m the only person in this field who’s ever gone toe-to-toe with him.’
Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee wrote on Twitter: ‘Just four days ago, Biden stood in front of the world and essentially gave Russia the green light to invade. Now, the State Department has ordered the families of US diplomats to evacuate Ukraine.’
Having already threatened ‘swift and severe’ economic sanctions if Ukraine is attacked, President Biden was today considering whether to deploy additional troops to the region to counter Russia’s build-up.
Both Democrats and Republicans are publicly pressuring the US president to apply sanctions on the Kremlin now instead of waiting to act until Russia invades Ukraine.
‘What’s happening with Russia and Ukraine would never have happened under the Trump Administration. Not even a possibility!’ former President Donald Trump sent in a statement today.
Democrat Representative Frank Pallone tweeted on Sunday: ‘Putin should know that if Russia invades Ukraine, the House will quickly pass legislation to impose sanctions on Russia. The United States and our allies will stand with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.’
He was referencing Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee introducing last week a companion bill to the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022 that would impose sanctions on Russia as it inches closer to invading Ukraine.
Republican Representative Lisa McClain of Michigan also tweeted today, saying: ‘President Biden is enabling Russia to invade Ukraine by being all talk and no action.
‘It’s time to stop making America look weak and start showing leadership.’
Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone said the US is ready to impose sanctions should Russia invade – but Biden is considering much more severe action as he considers deploying as many as 50,000 US troops to the Baltic region and Eastern European countries that border Ukraine
Germany has ‘betrayed’ Ukraine by banning weapon exports and supporting the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline with Russia, Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko declares
Former world heavyweight boxing champion and Mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko has accused Germany of ‘betraying’ Ukraine over its support of a Russian gas pipeline and refusal to export arms to his country.
The ex-heavyweight champ today contributed a piece to German daily Bild in which he slated the German authorities for their ‘failure to provide assistance and betrayal of friends’ as tensions reach boiling point amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Klitschko’s scalding of the German government comes on the same day as NATO announced it was putting forces on standby and reinforcing eastern Europe with more ships and fighter jets to prepare for a potential invasion.
Former world heavyweight boxing champion and Mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko
‘There is huge disappointment in Ukraine that the federal government is sticking to Nord Stream 2 and that it does not want to supply defence weapons,’ Klitschko wrote in Bild.
‘This is failure to provide assistance and betrayal of friends in a dramatic situation in which our country is threatened by Russian troops from several borders.’
Plans presented to the US President at the weekend included sending 1,000 to 5,000 troops to Baltic states neighbouring Russia – with the option of ramping up to 50,000 troops backed by warplanes and ships if the security situation deteriorates.
Yesterday Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan asked Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Michael McCaul: ‘You heard the secretary say that if he uses the leverage of sanctions now, he gives up an important bit of deterrence. Do you disagree?’
‘I completely disagree,’ the Texas Republican replied. ‘I think this has been a passive deterrence, right? I don’t. I don’t see Putin changing his course of action. It’s getting very aggressive.’
‘The noose is tightening around Ukraine. President [Volodymyr] Zelensky, as you mentioned, said he wants the sanctions now,’ McCaul continued on Sunday. ‘We can always remove the sanctions if it deters Putin’s bad behaviour, but if you reward that and there are no consequences, it’s going to continue. And I think all along, there are so many things we can be doing to provide deterrence if we don’t do this.’
‘The plan of action that I’ve seen in the classified space, as well as very specific, very aggressive, is timetable. If we don’t do something strong right now, I’m afraid that he’s going to invade Ukraine, which will have, as the secretary talked about, he’s right and I think you and I did. It will have global ramifications here.’
Republican Representative Pat Fallon from Texas, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, said Biden should have already imposed sanctions on Russia.
‘We should be sanctioning Russia yesterday – not tomorrow, not next week, but right now!’ he tweeted on Sunday.
Last week Biden suggested during his press briefing that if Russia made a ‘minor incursion’ there may be more debate over what to do next, saying: ‘I think what you’re going to see is that Russia will be held accountable if it invades.
‘And it depends on what it does. It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion and then we end up having a fight about what to do and not do.’
But today representative Elise Stefanik, the No. 3 ranking Republican in the House, tweeted: ‘There is no such thing as a minor incursion – any attempt to encroach on a sovereign nation is an invasion. Russia must accept Ukraine’s sovereignty and de-escalate immediately.’
The White House had to do clean up duty on those comments after it immediately raised alarms domestically and overseas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted there was no such thing as ‘minor incursions.’
Democrat Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut claimed while the US ‘can and should do more’ to help Ukraine, he also said ‘no country has done more to help Ukraine defend itself than the US’
NATO chief Jens Stoltenburg confirmed today that the alliance will be beefing up its own presence in the region, with additional ships and fighter jets deployed.
Denmark is sending a frigate to the Baltic Sea and deploying F-16 war planes to Lithuania.
Spain is sending ships to join NATO’s standing maritime force and considering sending fighter jets to Bulgaria. France stands ready to send troops to Bulgaria.
Downing Street said there were ‘further signs of Russian aggression’ on the country’s border and that ‘the West is – we are – ready to act if needed’.
But the PM’s spokesman said there were ‘no plans to send UK combat troops’ to the region but sanctions were on the table if Russia proceeded.
Stoltenberg said NATO will ‘take all necessary measures to protect and defend all allies.’
He added: ‘We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defense.’
Meanwhile Russia dispatched two corvettes from the Baltic Sea on a ‘long distance voyage’ with an unspecified destination.
The Stoykiy and Soobrazitelny left Russia’s port at Baltiysk on the mission, which the defence ministry said would include ‘communication, air and anti-submarine defence exercises and a number of combat drills.’
The statement was issued by the Western military district which is playing the lead role in massing forces on Europe’s doorstep, raising fears the corvettes could be heading for the Black Sea near Ukraine.
It comes after Russia last week sailed six landing craft out of the Baltics – leading many to suspect they were also heading for the Black Sea to form part of what many fear is an invading force.
NATO announced the deployment of more troops after Latvia’s foreign minister called for ‘countermeasures’ to Russia’s build-up.
Democrat Senator Chris Murphy claimed while the US’can and should do more’ to help Ukraine, he also said ‘no country has done more to help Ukraine defend itself than the US’
Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn said Biden’s comments ‘gave Russia the green light to invade’
‘We are reaching the point where a continuous Russian and Belarusian military buildup in Europe needs to be addressed by appropriate NATO countermeasures,’ he wrote on Facebook.
‘It is time to increase allied forces’ presence on the alliance’s eastern flank both as measures of defence and deterrence,’ he added.
The Kremlin denounced NATO’s movements, accusing the West of ramping up tensions by spreading ‘hysteria’ about war in Ukraine – which he said is now more likely than ever due to arms shipments to the region.
Peskov said the probability of military conflict in eastern Ukraine being initiated by the Ukrainian side was higher than ever.
Ukraine has deployed a large number of troops near the borders of breakaway regions controlled by pro-Russian separatists, which Peskov said suggests Kiev is preparing an attack. Ukraine has repeatedly denied this.Meanwhile Australia had instructed security officials in Ukraine to open up talks with the government about providing help to defend against cyber attacks.
The country has already been targeted once by hackers in recent weeks – which it blamed on Moscow – and there are fears such an attack could be used to knock out infrastructure and sow chaos ahead of a ground invasion, or else be used as a way of punishing Ukraine short of putting boots on the ground.
Australia also began evacuating the families of diplomatic staff in Ukraine, and ordered citizens to leave the country due to the risk of a Russian attack.
Lord Ricketts, former UK National Security Adviser, told Times Radio that Mr Johnson had been so distracted by the Partygate scandal that he had neglected the Ukraine situation.
‘it feels to me like the Prime Minister has been completely invisible on the Ukrainian crisis apart from putting out one or two press releases from No10,’ the peer said.
‘He hasn’t been part of the action between the heads of state and government. Liz Truss is now active at foreign minister level, (Defence Secretary) Ben Wallace has been making sure Britain has played a prominent role in military support to Ukraine.
‘And I applaud that, but this all needs to be brought together. And I think we do need more energy and activity from the Prime Minister himself. This is a very serious crisis and heads of government ought to be involved in handling it.’
Speaking about the Russian drills near Ireland at the weekend, politician and former soldier Cathal Berry told The Journal that Russian exercises in the region are ‘unusual’ though not unprecedented.
‘The exercise is posturing and is about messaging directly with European powers,’ he said.
‘The location is not an accident… They could be doing this off the coast of Murmansk but have chosen the Atlantic instead. There has been an increased number of incursions in to this area and near to Irish airspace.’
The UK has ordered some of its embassy staff out of Ukraine (pictured, the embassy in Kiev) due to fears that Russia could launch an attack
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was in Brussels for talks with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg (right) and her fellow ministers today
Ursula von der Leyen, EU commission president, said £1billion euro aid package is being prepared for Ukraine
Ireland’s foreign minister Simon Coveney (left) raised concerns about the drills as he arrived in Brussels for talks where states are expected to present a common front against Moscow
Spanish firgate Blas de Lezo leaves port on Sunday to begin a fresh NATO deployment, as the military alliance moves forces closer to Russia’s border in response to Putin’s troop build-up
A Ukrainian soldier patrols through a trench in the east of the country, close to where fighting is taking place with Russian-backed rebel groups
US could ban export of key tech components to Russia if it attacks Ukraine
The United States has threatened to impose a novel export control to deprive Russia of key tech components that would damage AI and aerospace industries if Russia were to invade Ukraine.
The Biden Administration may also opt to apply the control more widely, potentially restricting Russia’s access to semiconductors, and therefore Russian citizens of smartphones, games consoles and tablets, government officials said.
Such export controls that expand US sanctions beyond financial targets have only been deployed once before – to nearly bring down Chinese tech giant Huawei.
The measure, known as the foreign direct product rule, contributed to Huawei experiencing its first-even annual revenue drop that fell almost 30 percent last year.
Huawei’s supply of essential microchips was strangled. While they are made outside the US, they require US software or tools.
The US and the EU already have sanctions on Russia’s energy, financial and defence sectors, with tensions between Moscow and Western powers raising the prospect of new economic sanctions being imposed if Russia attacks neighbouring Ukraine.
The White House is also floating the idea of curbs on Russia’s biggest banks and has previously mooted measures targeting Moscow’s ability to convert roubles into dollars and other currencies.
Washington could also target the state-backed Russian Direct Investment Fund.
Similar restrictions on technology were deployed during the Cold War, when the United States and other Western nations maintained severe technology sanctions on the Soviet Union, keeping it technologically backward and crimping growth.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Mr Coveney said: ‘I have made it clear to the Russian Ambassador in Ireland that it’s not welcome.
‘This is not a time to increase military activity and tension in the context of what is happening with and in Ukraine at the moment.
‘Russia, under international law, can take military exercises in international waters, but the fact they are choosing to do it on the west borders of the EU, off the Irish coast, is something that is in our view not welcome and not wanted right now, particularly in the coming weeks.’
Mr Coveney was in Brussels on Monday for a scheduled meeting with other EU foreign ministers at which the ongoing tensions on the Russia/Ukraine border were being discussed.
‘This is an important day today for EU foreign ministers to reinforce a message of unity from the European Union in relation to Russian/Ukraine tension,’ Mr Coveney added ahead of the meeting.
‘There are two very clear messages that EU foreign ministers will want to get across today.
‘First of all, a clear message and ask of Russia to defuse tension in the context of their activities on the borders of Ukraine and give reassurance to the rest of the world in terms of their intentions.
‘Secondly, a strong message of unity from the EU that should Russia decide to invade Ukraine militarily, that there would be very severe consequences of that action from an EU perspective in terms of sanction and restrictions that would follow very quickly, that I think would be the most comprehensive that the EU has put together in many decades.
‘A message and appeal to use diplomatic means to defuse tension, but also a very strong and clear and unified message that the EU respond collectively and in a unified manner in a way that would introduce very significant measures in response to Russian military action in Ukraine.’
Elsewhere, European foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels today with the aim of putting on a united front against Moscow.
‘All members of the European Union are united. We are showing unprecedented unity about the situation in Ukraine, with the strong coordination with the US,’ EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters in Brussels.
Asked whether the EU would withdraw its own diplomats from Ukraine, Borrell he would not follow suit and warned against ‘dramatising’ the situation.
He added that he is not aware of any specific threat against European embassy staff, and would like to speak more with Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the US decision to pull his staff out.
During Monday’s meeting, which Blinken will attend virtually, the ministers will restate Europe´s condemnation of the Russian military build-up near Ukraine, involving an estimated 100,000 troops, tanks, artillery and heavy equipment, diplomats and officials said ahead of the meeting.
They´ll renew calls for dialogue, notably through the European-backed ‘Normandy format,’ which helped to ease hostilities in 2015, a year after Putin ordered the annexation of Ukraine´s Crimean Peninsula. Fighting in eastern Ukraine has killed around 14,000 people and still simmers today.
Should Putin move on Ukraine again, the ministers will warn, Russia would face ‘massive consequences and severe costs.’ Those costs would be of a financial and political nature. The EU insists that it stands ready to slap hefty sanctions on Russia within days of any attack.
‘We don´t know what the Russians are going to do, but what we are talking about is basically the most important security development in Europe since the end of the Cold War,’ a senior EU official said. ‘The response of the European Union will be at the level of the challenge.’
Hungary’s foreign minister warned on Monday of the threat of a new Cold War, amid tension between the West and Russia over Ukraine.
‘We don’t want a new Cold War. The Cold War period had tragic consequences in Central Eastern Europe, we wasted several decades,’ Peter Szijjarto said, adding that Hungary supported all diplomatic efforts and talks to resolve the standoff.
The official and diplomats briefed reporters on condition of anonymity so that they could speak more freely about the meeting preparations.
Over the weekend, some of the member countries closest to Russia – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – confirmed that they plan to send US-made anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, a move endorsed by the United States.
A Ukrainian military instructor drills civilian volunteers in woodlands near Kiev on Saturday
Ukrainian Servicemen of the 30th Army Brigade are seen in trenches outside of Svitlodarsk, in the east of the country, on Sunday
A Ukrainian soldier is pictured in trenches near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, on Sunday
But questions have been raised about just how unified the EU is. Diverse political, business and energy interests have long divided the 27-country bloc in its approach to Moscow. Around 40% of the EU´s natural gas imports come from Russia, much of it via pipelines across Ukraine.
Gas prices have skyrocketed, and the head of the International Energy Agency has said that Russian energy giant Gazprom was already reducing its exports to the EU in late 2021 despite high prices. Putin says Gazprom is respecting its contract obligations, not putting the squeeze on Europe.
The EU´s two major powers appear most cautious. Germany´s Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia, which is complete but yet to pump gas, has become a bargaining chip. French President Emmanuel Macron has renewed previously rejected calls for an EU summit with Putin.
Late last year, France and Germany initially expressed doubts about US intelligence assessments that Moscow might be preparing to invade.
Late on Saturday, the head of the German navy, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach, resigned after coming under fire for saying that Ukraine would not regain the Crimean Peninsula, and for suggesting that Putin deserves ‘respect.’
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban plans to meet with Putin next week to discuss a Russian-backed project to expand a Hungarian nuclear power plant.
Still, diplomats and officials said hard-hitting sanctions are being drawn up with the EU´s executive branch, the European Commission. But they were reluctant to say what the measures might be or what action by Russia might trigger them.
The aim, they said, is to try to match the doubts Putin has sowed about his intentions for Ukraine with uncertainty about what any retaliatory European action might look like, or when it would come.
One diplomat refused to discuss the matter at all. Another suggested that a layered response might be in preparation, with different levels of retaliation depending on whether a cyberattack, rocket strike, or all-out invasion was launched.
A third was confident there would be no arguments over the trigger point, saying: ‘We´ll know it when we see it.’
For now, though, the Europeans must wait and see whether Putin is satisfied with progress in talks with the United States, coordinate with Blinken on a response should things go wrong, and bank on the economic deterrent posed by the EU being Russia´s biggest trading partner.
A US soldier prepares a pallet of anti-tank weapons for transport to Ukraine at Dover Air Force Base, in Delaware, on Friday
America has also begun withdrawing its staff, with families of diplomats ordered home and non-essential staff offered a route out of the country
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