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       New shipment of Russian military equipment arrives in Belarus amid Ukraine tensions

       The UK and US could both personally sanction Russian president Vladimir Putin after Joe Biden suggested this could be an option in the case of an invasion.

       UK foreign secretary Liz Truss told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We have ruled nothing out in terms of sanctions, and in fact we’ll be legislating to toughen up our sanctions regime and make sure we are fully able to hit both individuals and companies and banks in Russia in the event of an incursion.”

       It comes as Russia held military drills on Wednesday and deployed more forces and fighter jets to Belarus for exercises next month as officials prepared to sit down for four-way talks in Paris on the conflict in east Ukraine.

       The Kremlin's point man on Ukraine was due to meet officials from France, Germany and Ukraine for "Normandy format" talks in Paris against the backdrop of a Russian military buildup near Ukraine that has sparked fears of an invasion.

       Recommended Ukraine-Russia crisis: What is going on? Ukraine-Russia map: Where could invasion take place and what is the situation along the border? UK not ruling out support for sanctioning Putin if Russia invades Ukraine

       Key Points Russia complains Ukraine ‘flooded’ with weapons to UN German chancellor warns of 'grave consequences' if Russia invades Biden warns Russia of ‘enormous global consequences’ of Ukraine invasion US prepares sanctions to ‘maximise pain’ for Russia UK defence minister: ‘Russian military associates already in Ukraine’ Invasion of Ukraine would be ‘tragic and futile’, PM warns Putin Nato sending more fighter jets and ships to Eastern Europe

       Show latest update 1643197559 Rome is a key partner for Moscow, Putin tells Italian businesses

       Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italian business executives via a video link on Wednesday that Italy was a key partner for Moscow, as western tensions with the Kremlin over Ukraine rise.

       At an online meeting originally set for November and which drew criticism from Italian government, Putin also told executives from Italy’s top companies that Russia was a reliable energy supplier and that Rome was able to buy gas from Gazprom at lower prices thanks to long-term deals.

       Thomas Kingsley 26 January 2022 11:45

       1643196659 Ukraine sees four-way talks as ‘strong signal’ towards peace, official says

       Four-way crunch talks between Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France are a strong signal towards peace in eastern Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to Ukraine’s president, said on his arrival to Paris where the meeting is being held.

       “We have finally managed to unlock the format - and it’s a strong signal of readiness for a peaceful settlement. Hope for a constructive dialogue in the interests,” he wrote on Twitter.

       Thomas Kingsley 26 January 2022 11:30

       1643195759 Italian government asks firms not to join meeting with Putin

       Rome has asked companies not to participate in a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Wednesday aimed at boosting business ties between the two countries, a government official speaking to Reuters hsa said.

       The meeting, which was originally scheduled for November, will be held via a video link and feature top managers at firms like power company Enel and lender UniCredit, according to souces who have seen the list.

       “The meeting is a private initiative and there is no government involvement in it,” the government official said.

       (EPA)

       Thomas Kingsley 26 January 2022 11:15

       1643194859 No room for EU or OSCE in Ukraine talks, says Russia

       Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow did not want to talks over Ukraine and its security concerns to be extended by including the European Union or the Organisation of Security and Cooperation Europe (OSCE).

       Lavrov also reiterated Moscow’s stance that it would take unspecified “appropriate measures” if it did not receive a constructive answer from the United States and Nato on security guarantees it is demanding.

       He made the comments to the State Duma or lower house of parliament.

       Thomas Kingsley 26 January 2022 11:00

       1643194139 Kremlin says personal Putin sanctions would be politically destructive - not painful

       Following threats that both the US and UK would personally sanction Putin in the case of a Ukraine incursion, Vladimir Putin says such a move would be “politically destructive” rather than painful as the West aim.

       Russia insists it does not plan to invade, but the West has threatened severe economic penalties if that does happen. US president Joe Biden said he would consider personal sanctions on Putin and Britain said it would not rule out doing the same.

       Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said US politicians talking about potential personal sanctions against Putin did not have enough expert knowledge on the subject.

       (AP)

       Thomas Kingsley 26 January 2022 10:48

       1643193959 UK and US consider sanctioning Putin personally amid threat of Ukrainian invasion

       The UK and the US have both threatened to sanction Russian president Vladimir Putin personally if he chooses to invade Ukraine.

       This comes as the presence of more than 100,000 Russian troops at the Ukrainian border has brought the spectre of war to Europe.

       While the west sends arms to Ukraine in preparation for a potential conflict, it continues to attempt to deter Russia from a military incursion through the threat of economic sanctions. Moscow denies that it wants to attack its neighbour - like it did in 2014 in Crimea - but stresses it can move troops as it pleases inside its territory.

       Our reporter, Rory Sullivan, has the full story below:

       UK and US consider sanctioning Putin personally amid threat of Ukrainian invasion The Kremlin says any move to sanction the Russian leader would prove politically destructive

       Thomas Kingsley 26 January 2022 10:45

       1643193059 Ukrainians ‘fear for their lives’ as PM believes he’s above the law, head of Commons Standards committee says

       The chairman of the Commons Committee on Standard’s accused Boris Johnson for believing he is “above the law” while an international crisis unfolds in Ukraine.

       Chris Bryant voiced anger about the government’s handling of alleged lockdown breaches in Number 10 and said Boris Johnson’s moral authority has “completely eroded”.

       “This is why it’s utterly despicable that we’ve had to go through all of this, because you’ve got the complete erosion of the prime minister’s moral authority because of this pattern of behaviour,” he said.

       “It’s so disrespectful to the bus drivers, the nurses in ICU and everybody else that Tory MPs come on the air and say ‘Well, all these people in Downing Street, we’re working terribly hard.’ Well, I’m sorry, everybody was working terribly hard.”

       He added: “I was in Ukraine last week. I think people are fearful for their lives and it makes me angry that the Prime Minister thinks he’s above the law.”

       Thomas Kingsley 26 January 2022 10:30

       1643192159 Ukraine has no objections to US written responses to Russia, minister says

       Ukraine has no objections to responses the United States will send to Russia as part of negotiations to avert a military escalation against Ukraine, foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba told a briefing on Wednesday.

       Russia is expecting Washington to respond in writing to its proposals for sweeping security guarantees it wants from the West, including a block on Ukraine joining the transatlantic NATO alliance.

       Mr Kuleba also said Russia was trying to sow panic in Ukraine. It has not massed enough troops for a large scale offensive but that does not mean it could not do so later, said Kuleba, adding that the risks were high

       Thomas Kingsley 26 January 2022 10:15

       1643191259 Russia holds military drills before crunch talks

       Russia held military drills on Wednesday and deployed more forces and fighter jets to Belarus for exercises next month as officials prepared to sit down for four-way talks in Paris on the conflict in east Ukraine.

       The Kremlin’s point man on Ukraine was due to meet officials from France, Germany and Ukraine for “Normandy format” talks in Paris against the backdrop of a Russian military buildup near Ukraine that has sparked fears of an invasion.

       Russia insists it does not plan to invade, but the West has threatened severe economic penalties if that does happen. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday he would consider personal sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Britain said on Wednesday it would not rule out doing the same.

       (Reuters)

       Thomas Kingsley 26 January 2022 10:00

       1643190359 ‘Nothing ruled out’ in terms of Russia sanctions, Liz Truss warns

       Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the UK and its allies need to show they are united to help deter a Russian incursion into Ukraine.

       Asked if the UK would support personal sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, after US President Joe Biden suggested this could be an option in the case of an invasion, Ms Truss told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We have ruled nothing out in terms of sanctions, and in fact we’ll be legislating to toughen up our sanctions regime and make sure we are fully able to hit both individuals and companies and banks in Russia in the event of an incursion.

       “What’s important is that all of our allies do the same, because it’s by collective action, by showing Vladimir Putin we’re united, that we will help deter a Russian incursion.”

       Asked if she is worried about united action, she said: “We would like to see our allies do more to help supply defensive support to Ukraine and also put those sanctions in place.

       “We have made huge progress. I hosted the G7 in Liverpool in December, and all of the G7 agreed that there would be severe economic costs if Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine.”

       Thomas Kingsley 26 January 2022 09:45

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