Mon 31 January 2022:
Biden says Russia to face consequences if it attacks Ukraine
President Joe Biden has warned Russia it would face “swift and severe consequences” from the US and its partners if Moscow attacked Ukraine, while keeping the path of diplomacy open by suggesting the possibility of dialogue.
“If Russia is sincere about addressing our respective security concerns through dialogue, the United States and our Allies and partners will continue to engage in good faith”, Biden said in a statement put out by the White House.
“If instead Russia chooses to walk away from diplomacy and attack Ukraine, Russia will bear the responsibility, and it will face swift and severe consequences”.
“The United States and our Allies and partners continue to prepare for every scenario.”
Ukraine ready to defend its itself: UN ambassador
Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations asked Russia in the open meeting how long Russia plans to “pressure” Ukraine and its partners into a “Kafka trap.”
“Kremlin must remember that Ukraine is ready to defend itself,” said Kyslytsya.
“At the same time, we support the need to keep diplomatic channels with Russia open. If that prevents a shift to military tools. My president has reiterated most recently that he’s ready to meet his Russian counterpart.”
Johnson to tell Putin to “step back from the brink”
Johnson says he will ask Putin for calm over Ukraine when the two leaders speak.
“What I will say to President Putin, as I’ve said before, is that I think we really all need to step back from the brink, and I think Russia needs to step back from the brink,” Johnson told reporters.
Ukrainian police detain suspected riot plotters
Ukrainian police have detained a group of people suspected of planning mass riots in Kyiv and other cities, according to the country’s interior minister, who did not say how many people had been detained or who they were.
Denys Monastyrskiy told a televised briefing the arrests were made on Sunday and that about 5,000 people were supposed to take part in riots and clashes with police in five cities in northern and central Ukraine.
“This action, which was planned in advance, was originally aimed at violent actions and organising riots and had nothing to do with peaceful protests,” Monastyrskiy said. “It was … intended precisely to shake up and destabilise the situation in Ukraine.”
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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