London Thanasis Gavos
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of possible bloodshed on a scale comparable to that of the wars in Chechnya and Bosnia.
In an emergency statement to the House of Commons early in the afternoon, Mr Johnson said Ukrainians had “a moral and legal right” to defend their country and that Britain and its allies would support them.
The British leader has twice noted that in parallel with any deterrent moves by the West, his country wants to continue its diplomatic effort to avoid a conflict.
“We are ready to listen to any legitimate concerns of Russia with honest diplomacy,” Johnson said.
Boris Johnson said in a December 13 speech that he had warned Vladimir Putin that any attack on Ukraine would result in increased Western sanctions and support for Ukraine.
He also assured him that NATO has no intention of “encircling or otherwise threatening” Russia, which has the same right as any other country to live in peace and security.
“If Russia’s goal is to keep NATO troops away from its borders, then an invasion of Ukraine could hardly be more counterproductive,” he said.
He went on to say that Britain was ready to impose more economic sanctions on Russia, but also to consider providing assistance to NATO’s enhanced military presence in the region.
He said in a teleconference with the US president on Monday that European leaders had agreed to work together in the event of a Russian invasion, calling on Europeans to be prepared to impose sanctions on Moscow.
“It is not new for a great power to threaten other countries with violence (…) but if President Putin chooses the path of bloodshed and destruction, he must realize that it will be tragic and futile,” Boris Johnson said. that “history would condemn such a war.”
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