Last minute… US President Joe Biden said yesterday, “The West is united and determined – and we are ready to impose heavy sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine further”. Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday about possible Western sanctions, “Whatever (sanctions) will be applied”. The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee said on Thursday that the ‘bipartisan decision’ in the Senate demonstrates the US Senate’s support for harsh sanctions to be imposed on Russia.
“WE IMPLEMENT HEAVY SANCTIONS”
U.S. President Joe Biden, in his statements at Turkey time, emphasized that Russian troops surrounded Ukraine along its borders from Belarus to the Black Sea and said, “We have reason to believe that Russian forces are planning and intending to attack Ukraine in the coming days.” Joe Biden, who stated in his statements that there are 150 thousand soldiers on the Ukrainian border, continued his messages as follows; “We will hold Russia accountable for its actions. The West is united and determined – and we are ready to impose heavy sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine further.”
“WE WILL NOT SEND SOLDIERS”
President Biden stated that the United States and its allies are ready to defend every corner of NATO territory. “We will also not send troops to fight in Ukraine, but we will continue to support the Ukrainian people.” Biden stated that they provided $650 million of military ammunition, including Javelin missiles, for the defense of Ukraine, and that they had previously provided humanitarian aid and economic support of $ 500 million, and that they would guarantee a loan of $ 1 billion.
RUSSIA AND BELARUS COOPERATION: CREATING A NEW PAYMENT SYSTEM
Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the joint press conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko yesterday, stated that the West will impose sanctions against Russia no matter what, and said that they aim for a strong country’s economy. “We cooperate to overcome and minimize the consequences of illegitimate sanctions imposed by some countries,” Putin said about the content of cooperation with Belarus. “We are working to integrate our payment systems and create a new payment system,” Putin said.
EXERCISES ARE NOT INTENDED TO THREAT
Noting that the military exercises in Belarus will begin on February 20, Putin said, “I would like to state that these exercises are purely for defensive purposes and do not threaten anyone.” Stating that the only way out of possible Western sanctions is economic empowerment, Russian President Putin said, “Firstly, this pressure of sanctions is absolutely illegitimate. “This is a grave violation of international law,” he said.
SANCTIONS WILL APPLY WHATSOEVER
Putin continued his words as follows;
“You talk about sanctions. Whatever it is, it will apply. For example, is there an excuse or no excuse connected with the events in Ukraine today – an excuse will be found because the purpose is different. The aim is to hinder the development of Russia and Belarus in this case. Those who pursue this goal will always find an excuse to impose various restrictions. I will repeat that these restrictions are illegitimate.”
RUSSIAN BANKS CAN BE REMOVED FROM SWIFT
The Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate stated that the bipartisan decision taken by a group of senators includes the joint support of the US Senate. Committee Chairman Bob Menendez stated on Thursday that they stand behind Biden as the senate, saying, “We support harsh sanctions and agree with President Biden that Putin will be held accountable if he reoccurs.”
In an interview with the media in January, Menendez noted that the sanctions would go far beyond previous sanctions and that if the US President wanted, Russian banks would be removed from SWIFT.
DHA