Russia will face ‘severe consequences’ if it invades Ukraine: Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warns
Russia will face ‘severe consequences’ if it invades Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warns ahead of G7 Liverpool summit – and tells allies Putin and China ‘are trying to erode our liberties’
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned Putin of ‘severe consequences’ over UkraineMs Truss said she would target Russia’s economy in any post-invasion sanctions She urged G7 allies to pose a united front against ‘malign’ behaviour by RussiaComes as Russia has stationed more than 70,000 troops on the Ukraine border There are fears Putin’s Kremlin is planning to invade Ukraine as early as next year
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Russia would face ‘severe consequences’ if it invaded Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary has warned ahead of a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Liverpool.
Liz Truss said the UK would aim to damage the Russian economy if it made an incursion into Ukraine, as she prepared to lobby allies during weekend talks to become less dependent on Moscow for cheap gas.
She will accuse Russia and China of ‘trying to erode our liberties’ during a speech at the Museum of Liverpool today as part of the UK’s year-long G7 presidency.
The Cabinet minister will also urge allies from the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan to present a united front against ‘malign’ behaviour by Russia in a meeting today.
US intelligence officials say Russia has stationed about 70,000 troops near its border with Ukraine and has begun planning for a possible invasion as soon as early next year.
Foreign Secretary Lizz Truss has warned Russia would face ‘severe consequences’ if it invaded Ukraine ahead of a meeting of G7 leaders in Liverpool over the weekend
Liz Truss said the UK would aim to damage the Russian economy if it made an incursion into Ukraine, as she prepared to lobby allies during weekend talks to become less dependent on Moscow for cheap gas (pictured, Russian President Vladimir Putin)
US intelligence officials say Russia has stationed about 70,000 troops near its border with Ukraine and has begun planning for a possible invasion as soon as early next year
President Joe Biden has spoken with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the leaders of Germany, Italy and France – dubbed the Nato ‘quint’ – twice this week as they deliberate on how to deal with the threat.
Ms Truss, asked by broadcasters how likely an invasion was, repeated her assertion that it would be a ‘strategic mistake’ for Moscow to send troops across the border – something she wants the G7 to ‘spell out’ over the next two days.
‘What the G7 meeting this weekend that’s taking place is about a show of unity between like-minded major economies that we are going to absolutely be strong in our stance against aggression, against aggression with respect to Ukraine,’ she said.
‘There will be severe consequences if anything were to happen, but also make sure that we’re building security and economic relationships with like-minded partners, including Ukraine, to protect them in the future.’
Ms Truss sidestepped questions about whether there could be a British military response to an invasion, saying only that Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had been in Ukraine ‘very recently’ as the UK helps to build Kiev’s defence and security capability.
A deal struck last month will see UK warships and missiles sold to Kiev.
President Joe Biden (left) has spoken with Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) and the leaders of Germany, Italy and France – dubbed the Nato ‘quint’ – twice this week as they deliberate on how to deal with the threat
Ms Truss, asked by broadcasters how likely an invasion was, repeated her assertion that it would be a ‘strategic mistake’ for Moscow to send troops (pictured, taking part in drills near the Ukraine border) across the border
The Foreign Secretary added that the UK was working with allies to ‘make sure there would be severe economic consequences’ if Russia sent troops into Ukraine.
She said Britain would also be pushing for an ‘alternative to Russian gas supplies’ in a bid to establish stronger energy security.
‘There have been decisions made by the free world in the short term to obtain cheap energy or cheap financing, and that has a long-term cost for freedom and democracy,’ the former trade secretary said.
‘And we can’t make that mistake again.’
And she will call on the ‘world’s most influential democracies to take a stand against aggressors who seek to undermine liberty and send a clear message that we are a united front,’ in a thinly veiled threat to Russia.
Ms Truss and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ‘expressed deep concern’ about the amassing of Russian troops at the border with Ukraine during their meeting ahead of G7 foreign ministers gathering in Liverpool on Saturday.
A spokesman from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: ‘Both agreed their support for Ukraine and expressed deep concern about the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine’s border.
‘In addition, they said that any incursion by Russia would be a strategic mistake for which there would be serious consequences.
‘The Foreign Secretary and Secretary Blinken both agreed on the importance of defending and promoting freedom and democracy, and the need for a unity of purpose from the G7 to achieve this.’
The pair also spoke about tech and security co-operation while stressing the ‘need for Iran to meaningfully engage on a nuclear deal’, the FCDO added.
Ms Truss also met new German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, during which they spoke about the ‘need to stand up to autocratic regimes that threaten the free world’, unity in the face of Russia’s ‘threat’ to Ukraine, the Northern Ireland Protocol and the European migrant crisis.
Over the course of the weekend, the Foreign Secretary will hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from the G7 countries and the EU, as well as guest countries – such as Australia and South Korea – joining the event at the Museum of Liverpool.
On Sunday, she will host plenary sessions on global health security as well as regarding the Indo-Pacific region, with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations joining the G7 meeting for the first time.
It comes after the UK’s integrated review on foreign policy announced a ’tilt’ towards the Indo-Pacific, in a move seen as aiming to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
With the UK on Friday recording the highest number of Covid-19 infections since January, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said overseas attendees in Liverpool would have to take a PCR test before being admitted to the event, with daily testing on-site.
The gathering will be the second in-person meeting of G7 foreign ministers this year, following a session in London in May, which was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab before his demotion from foreign secretary to Justice Secretary during the Cabinet reshuffle in September.
