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US President Joe Biden warned on Tuesday of “grave” and “grave” consequences for Russian President Vladimir Putin, including personal sanctions against him, if the Russian leader mobilizes some 127,000 troops ready to strike along the Ukrainian border.
“I made it clear to President Putin from the beginning that if he were to enter Ukraine, he would face serious consequences, including significant economic sanctions, and I would feel compelled to strengthen our presence, our presence. NATO, on the eastern front, in Poland, Romania, etc. “, said President Biden, adding that” if he entered (Ukraine) with all those forces, it would be the biggest invasion since the war. Second World. “It would change the world.”
He also stressed that none of the 8,500 US troops put on high alert this week will be deployed on Ukrainian territory and they will be deployed as part of a NATO operation, not just a US operation. He did not say when he could order the deployment of troops to the region.
President Biden said the United States has a “sacred obligation” to come to the aid of NATO allies facing threats. Ukraine is not a member of NATO – although it wants to be. Neighboring Russia, however, sees potential NATO membership as a threat and has demanded that the alliance not exclude Ukraine. Russian President Putin has said he has no intention of invading Ukraine, but sees NATO eastward expansion as a threat.
“I have spoken to each of our NATO allies… virtually. “We are all in line,” said President Biden. “We need to make it clear that there is no reason for anyone, not even a NATO member, to worry about whether, we, NATO, would come to their defense or not.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy used a televised speech on Tuesday to call for calm in Ukraine.
“There are no pink glasses, no childish illusions, nothing is simple. “But there is hope,” said President Zelenskiy. “Protect your body from viruses, your brain from lies, your heart from panic.”
President Zelenskiy said plans were being made for him to meet with the leaders of Russia, Germany and France. Officials from the four countries meet in Paris on Wednesday.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he would seek clarification on Russia’s intentions during a phone call with President Putin scheduled for Friday.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday in response to a VOA question that Russian forces have grown “steadily” but not “dramatically.”
“We have seen a steady increase in combat power from the Russians in the western part of their country, around the borders with Ukraine and Belarus,” said spokesman Kirby.
Earlier in the day, the United States warned Russia it would face faster and much more severe economic consequences if it invaded Ukraine than when Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014.
“We are prepared to implement sanctions with massive consequences that were not taken into account in 2014,” a national security official told reporters in Washington. “This means that the gradual approach of the past is over. “This time, we will start at the top of the ladder and stay there.”
The security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States was “also prepared to impose new controls on exports” to deter the Russian economy.
He said export control options, being explored jointly with US allies and partners, would severely undermine President Putin’s strategic ambitions to industrialize his economy and undermine areas of importance to him. whether in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, defense, or space and other essential sectors. ”
The United States and its allies imposed less severe economic sanctions on Moscow after the annexation of Crimea, but they ultimately proved fruitless and the peninsula remained under Russian control.
Russia, meanwhile, said it was pursuing “with great concern” the decision to put US troops on high alert.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated to Russian accusations that the United States was escalating tensions in the crisis along the Russia-Ukraine border, where President Putin has deployed some 127,000 troops.
Russia’s request to suspend Ukraine from NATO membership has been rejected by Western leaders, who have said they will not give Moscow a veto over who belongs to the 30-nation military alliance that was formed. to counter Soviet aggression after World War II.
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