RT.com
24 Jan 2022, 00:12 GMT+10
UK government believes Russia is allegedly planning to invade Ukraine
British authorities are reportedly considering "an opportunity to support the suspension of Russia from the SWIFT international payment system, citing a hypothetical military conflict that could erupt between Russia and Ukraine.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson "fears some world leaders may not appreciate the deteriorating picture on the Ukrainian border, or fully comprehend the risks posed by a bullying Russia," The Telegraph reports, citing sources close to the leader.
Over the past few months, a wide range of Western media outlets, along with multiple US officials, have been spreading speculation about an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine. Washington and its allies threatened Kremlin with a new round of 'crippling' sanctions if this happens, citing the movement of Russian troops within the country's vast Western territory as evidence of the plan. Moscow has consistently rejected the allegations, saying that Russia has a right to carry out military maneuvers as it pleases within its borders.
According to the British premier, the potential sanctions against Russia "cannot exclude" Nord Stream 2, the widely debated pipeline that is designed to increase gas supplies to crisis-hit European nations and is currently stuck in a protracted EU certification process.
Johnson is reportedly due to hold calls with G7 leaders to finalise a "sanction coalition" to introduce targeted measures against Russia.
Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that officials at the UK Foreign Office were told to be ready to move into "crisis mode" at very short notice, as "concerns that Russia's aggression toward Ukraine could escalate into conflict" increased. That reportedly means that officials and diplomats would focus their work on the UK response to any further spike in tensions, including deterrence and sanctions.
On Saturday, London's Foreign Office issued grotesque claims that Moscow was plotting to "install a pro-Russian leader in [Kiev] as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine." Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed the claim, urging the UK to stop spreading "nonsense" and "disinformation."
The idea of cutting Russia off the SWIFT banking network was reportedly considered as one of the options to punish Russia for the military assault they have been warning about, but was rejected by EU and US politicians, Das Handelsblatt reported earlier this week, citing sources close to the matter. The measure might reportedly result in a destabilization of financial markets in the short term and, in the medium term, in the development of an alternative payment infrastructure.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Mexico Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Mexico Star.
More InformationRecent research has linked playing video games in childhood with an increase in intelligence. While parents and carers may be ...
New York [US], May 23 (ANI/Xinhua): New York City, the most populous city in the United States, has entered into ...
Lahore [Pakistan], May 23 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued a warning against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Chairman Imran ...
Beijing [China], May 23 (ANI): The United States has said it was "deeply concerned" about United Nations High Commissioner for ...
New Delhi [India], May 23 (ANI): In a major relief, the Centre on Monday relaxed family pension rules for missing ...
The Ukraine war and other conflicts pushed the number of people forced to flee conflict, violence, human rights violations and ...
SAN FRANCISCO, California: In a letter released this week, the archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, said U.S. House Speaker ...
BERLIN, Germany: At least 43 people were injured after a tornado struck the western German city of Paderborn on May ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The Department of Justice has said that an American citizen and four Chinese intelligence officers have been charged ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Due to the inability of businesses to hire enough workers, the U.S. has announced that it will grant ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: U.S. senators Elizabeth Warren and Mike Rounds have introduced a bipartisan resolution requesting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ...
MOSCOW, Russia: According to preliminary data released by the finance ministry this week, almost three months after Moscow's invasion of ...