The US has renewed its threat of sanctions against Russia in the Ukraine conflict!
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (59) told the US broadcaster on Sunday CNN: If just a single other Russian actor moves aggressively into Ukraine, it will trigger a significant response!
︎ Blinken literally threatened: “A single additional Russian force” entering Ukraine “aggressively” would “trigger a quick, severe and united response from us and from Europe”.
The foreign minister once again emphasized the clear position of the USA against Russia’s aggressive policy.
US President Joe Biden (79) caused confusion at a press conference last week by saying that a “small invasion” might not trigger the same NATO response as an invasion. Biden then clarified that any Russian troops crossing the Ukrainian border would constitute an invasion.
After a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week, Foreign Minister Blinken also warned that any Russian invasion of Ukraine would be met with “a tough and unified response”.
No preventive sanctions against Russia
On Sunday, Blinken also defended the government’s unwillingness to impose preventive sanctions on Russia. “When it comes to sanctions, the purpose of those sanctions is to deter Russian aggression,” Blinken said.
︎ However, if sanctions were already imposed on Russia, the West would lose the ability to deter Russia from possible aggression against Ukraine. Blinken told NBC that he had no doubt that Germany shared US concerns about Russia.
Republican Senator Joni Ernst, 51, said in a separate interview with CNN that the Biden administration should immediately impose sanctions to deter an invasion of Ukraine. “We have to show them that we mean business and that we will be there for Ukraine,” said Ernst. And further: “As soon as an invasion takes place? lives are lost. You can’t go back. So these sanctions must be imposed now.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the United States and its allies to punish Moscow for its massive build-up of troops along Ukraine’s borders.
Aggressor Putin has massed tens of thousands of soldiers on the border with Ukraine. Since then, the West and Ukraine have feared an impending Russian invasion. The foreign ministers of the EU states want to discuss the latest developments in the conflict with Russia with their US colleague Antony Blinken this Monday.
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