If Russia invades Ukraine, United States President Joe Biden says he will consider imposing personal sanctions on Vladimir Putin.
Mr. Biden stated that if Russia made a move against the country, which sits on its south-western border, there would be “enormous consequences” for the rest of the world.
His remarks came as other Western leaders warned that Russia would pay a high price for its invasion.
Russia has accused the United States and others of “escalating tensions” over the issue and has denied any intention of entering Ukraine.
Moscow, on the other hand, has deployed an estimated 100,000 soldiers near the border.
The Kremlin has stated that it considers the Western military alliance Nato to be a security threat and has demanded legal guarantees that it will not admit new members further east, including neighboring Ukraine. However, the US has stated that the issue at hand is Russian aggression, not Nato expansion.
Fears of an invasion have caused some Western embassies in Kyiv to withdraw personnel.
On Wednesday, diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France will meet in Paris to discuss the ongoing tensions.
Taking questions from reporters on Tuesday, Mr. Biden said “yes” when asked if he could see himself personally imposing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin in the event of an invasion.
A move across Ukraine’s border would have “enormous global ramifications” and could amount to “the largest invasion since World War II,” he said.
In the past, the United States has sanctioned foreign leaders such as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Blocking property and transactions related to the leaders’ respective countries was among the measures implemented.
Mr. Biden went on to say that if Russia invaded, he would feel obligated to increase Nato’s presence in eastern Europe. However, he reiterated that there were no plans to send US troops to Ukraine.
On Wednesday, UK Foreign Minister Liz Truss echoed Mr. Biden’s words that the government has “ruled nothing out,” including sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that the UK is looking to “toughen up” its sanctions against individuals, banks, and businesses.
“What matters is that all of our allies follow suit. It is through collective action. By demonstrating our unity to Putin, we will help deter a Russian incursion “She stated.
Russia reacted angrily to Mr. Biden’s comments. “Finally, the US leadership has openly stated what it wants: Washington wants a loyal Russian president,” said Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the Russian parliament, on the social media site Telegram.
In addition, the country has accused the US and NATO of “flooding” Ukraine with weapons and Western advisers.
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The US has already placed 8,500 combat-ready troops on alert for quick deployment, ostensibly to reinforce Nato allies, causing Russia “great concern.”
Washington has also warned Russia’s ally Belarus that it will face a “rapid and decisive response” if it aids an invasion.
Western powers agreed to “unprecedented” sanctions against Russia during crisis talks on Monday.
On Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the Western allies would respond to any incursion with “severe” economic sanctions and that Britain was ready to deploy troops to protect Nato allies in the region.
He raised the issue of Russia’s exclusion from the Swift international payments system, which senior Russian officials said would prevent Europe from paying for and receiving Russian goods.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that talks with Moscow would continue.
He added that he would speak with Mr Putin by phone on Friday to clarify Russia’s intentions toward Ukraine.
Separately, Mr. Biden’s administration stated that it is working with oil and gas suppliers around the world to increase shipments to Europe in the event that Russia cuts off supplies, according to the New York Times.
Russia currently supplies roughly one-third of the European Union’s crude oil and gas imports.
