Thu 20 January 2022:
If Russia invade Ukraine, the EU Commission chief warned of “massive economic and financial sanctions.”
Ursula von der Leyen highlighted last week’s diplomatic contacts between Russia and Western countries on European security arrangements while speaking via video link at the World Economic Forum.
She stressed that the bloc wants dialogue with Russia to solve the conflict in Ukraine.
“But if the situation deteriorates, if there are any further attacks on the territorial integrity of Ukraine, we will respond with massive economic and financial sanctions,” von der Leyen warned.
Her remarks came a day after US President Joe Biden said he believed Russia will move to invade Ukraine.
Von der Leyen also rejected “Russian attempts to divide Europe”, saying: “We will not go back to an old logic of competition and spheres of influence, where entire countries were treated as possessions or backyards.”
The NATO-Russia Council dismissed Russia’s allegations of halting NATO enlargement and withdrawing forces from NATO’s eastern flanks, and urged on Russia to end its threatening language and military build-up in and around Ukraine during the meeting.
Last week, talks between Russia and Western countries on draft treaties on European security arrangements presented by Moscow came to a halt.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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