INVADE AND FACE A13 ROBUST RESPONSE
Raab warns Russia of severe economic fallout over Ukraine
DOMINIC Raab has warned Vladimir Putin of “serious consequences” if Russia invades Ukraine.
The deputy PM yesterday promised a “robust” response from Britain if the Kremlin decides to trigger a war.
He was speaking as Ukraine’s UK ambassador Vadym Prystaiko vowed his country is “prepared to fight” but is not well equipped for a long conflict.
Mr Raab said: “We are standing shoulder to shoulder [with the EU, NATO and the US], saying there will be very serious consequences if Russia takes this move to try and invade, and also install a puppet regime.”
He did not spell out what measures would be taken but said that there will be “serious, severe economic consequences” not just from the UK “but from all NATO and interested countries who want to uphold the rule of law”. Mr Raab added he believes there is now a “very significant” risk Ukraine will be invaded.
He said: “We want allies across NATO to understand the seriousness of what is going on. We also want Putin to step back from the brink.
“The world needs to keep its eye on this and be very clear with President Putin that there would be a price.”
More than 100,000 Russian soldiers are massed on the Ukrainian border, along with tanks and artillery. The Kremlin has made a series of security demands, including a halt to NATO’s eastward expansion and a pledge that Ukraine will never be allowed to join the Western military alliance.
But Mr Prystaiko said his country still wants to join the EU and NATO. He added: “That’s what we made clear eight years ago and that’s why Russians came – and it didn’t change our resolve.”
In a bid to defuse the crisis, talks took place in Geneva late last week between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Russian counterpart Sergey
Lavrov. With no breakthrough, they said fresh talks would be held in the future.
Over the weekend, a further shipment of US military equipment arrived in Kyiv and President Joe Biden thanked Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for also sending US-made weapons to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, pro-Moscow politician Yevhen Murayev – said to be in line to take charge of a puppet regime in Kyiv – has poured cold water on the claims.
MI6 is said to have uncovered a plot to install the 45-year-old TV channel owner. But he said he has faced sanctions and been barred from Russia as a security threat, and his dad’s assets were frozen.
Mr Murayev added: “I have a hard time digesting stupidity and nonsense.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry also called on the Foreign Office to “stop spreading nonsense”.
That’s what we made clear eight years ago and that’s why Russians came
VADYM PRYSTAIKO ON WANTING TO JOIN EU AND NATO