Liz Truss warns Russia will face “serious consequences” if it attacks Ukraine

Foreign Minister Liz Truss warned that Russia would face “serious consequences” if it attacked Ukraine.

Ahead of a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Liverpool, Ms Truss said the UK would aim to damage the Russian economy if it entered Ukraine, as it prepared to put pressure on its countries. Moscow for cheap gas to be less dependent on allies in weekend talks.

During the meeting under Britain’s one-year G7 presidency, cabinet ministers will urge allies from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan to present a united front against Russia’s “malicious” behaviour.

US intelligence officials say Russia has deployed some 70,000 troops near its border with Ukraine and has begun planning a possible offensive early next year.

Joe Biden spoke to Boris Johnson and the leaders of Germany, Italy and France – dubbed NATO’s ‘fifth’ – twice this week to discuss how to proceed.

Ms Truss, when asked by broadcasters about the possibility of an invasion, reiterated her claim that sending troops across the border to Moscow would be a ‘strategic mistake’ – something she wants the G7 to do in the next two days. “Get out”.

“The G-7 meeting this weekend is a demonstration of the unity among the major economies sharing similar views that we are going to be fully resolute in our position against aggression, against aggression towards Ukraine,” he said. are,” she said.

“If anything happens it will have dire consequences, but also ensure that we establish security and economic ties with like-minded partners, including Ukraine, to protect them in the future.”

Ms Truss avoided questions as to whether there might be a British military response to the invasion, saying only that Defense Secretary Ben Wallace had “recently” visited Ukraine as the UK was trying to strengthen Kiev’s defense and security capabilities. I was helping.

A deal signed last month will see the sale of British warships and missiles to Kiev.

The foreign minister said Britain was working with its allies “to ensure that there would be serious economic consequences if Russia sent troops to Ukraine”.

He said Britain would also push for “alternatives to Russian gas supplies” in an effort to establish stronger energy security.

“The decisions are taken by the free world in the short term to get cheaper energy or cheaper finance, and this comes at a long-term cost to freedom and democracy,” the former secretary said. business.

“And we can’t make that mistake again.”

Over the weekend, Foreign Ministers will hold bilateral meetings with their counterparts from the G7 and EU countries, as well as with invited countries – such as Australia and South Korea – joining the event at the Liverpool Museum.

On Sunday, she will hold a plenary session on global health security as well as the Indo-Pacific region, with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations attending the G7 meeting for the first time.

This comes after the UK announced a “tilt” towards the Indo-Pacific following a review of its integrated foreign policy, seen as aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the region.

On Friday, with the UK recording the highest number of Covid-19 infections since January, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said that overseas participants in Liverpool would be required to undergo a PCR test before being admitted to the event, with daily tests on site. needed.

Following a session in London in May, the rally will be the second one-on-one meeting of the G7 foreign ministers this year, which was presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab before his reduction from foreign minister to justice minister during a cabinet reshuffle . in September.

On Wednesday, Biden said that sending US troops to Ukraine in response to Russian military build-up was “not on the table.”

But he warned Putin that there could be “serious consequences” if Russia attacks Ukraine. In such a scenario, the United States would also provide Ukraine with “defensive” capabilities, he told reporters.

PA. additional report by

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