[Epoch Times January 29, 2022]British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will call Russian President Vladimir Putin and visit Ukraine next week in an attempt to avoid a The latest Russian-Ukrainian crisis has led to bloodshed.
Russia has assembled troops on the Ukrainian border, and Putin said the U.S. and NATO had not addressed Moscow’s main security demands. The Kremlin, however, said it would depend on the response from Washington and NATO before deciding what to do next.
The United States pointed out that Russia is still capable of invading Ukraine. Three U.S. officials told Reuters that among the troops assembled by Russia on the Russian-Ukrainian border, there was also a stockpile of blood for the treatment of the wounded. The officials said indicators such as blood supply were crucial in determining whether Russia was preparing for an invasion.
Johnson warned of a winnerless disaster if Russia invaded.
Britain said it would sanction Russia if it invaded Ukraine and urged European allies to prepare for similar measures. The British government is expected to announce on Monday which sanctions will be tightened if Russia launches aggression.
“The Prime Minister is determined to accelerate diplomatic efforts and increase deterrence to avoid bloodshed in Europe,” a Downing Street office spokesman said in a statement.
The statement said that when Johnson spoke to President Putin, he would reiterate that Russia needed to back down and resolve the conflict diplomatically.
Johnson is also expected to visit Ukraine next week. However, the Prime Minister’s Office did not detail the time or location of the trip.
The UK has previously provided Ukraine with defensive weapons and training personnel. However, British officials said it was unlikely to actually send troops to Ukraine.
Reuters said Johnson was considering various options, including implementing new deployments and strengthening NATO’s defenses. Britain will also join discussions at the UN Security Council on Monday to try to resolve the standoff through diplomatic means.
In response to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance was closely watching the Russian military.
He said NATO was ready to increase its troop presence in Eastern Europe if Russia pursues further aggression against Ukraine, warning that a Russian attack could take many forms, including a cyber attack, a coup or the destruction of infrastructure.
“From the NATO side, we are ready to engage in political dialogue. But if Russia chooses armed conflict, we are also ready to respond,” Stottenberg said.
Russia says it can deploy the troops it needs on its own soil. It uses the Western response as evidence that Russia is the target of aggression.
Responsible editor: Ye Ziwei