NATO is concerned about Europe’s energy security in the wake of the conflict with Russia

By Kylie MacLellan and Maxim Rodionov

LONDON / MOSCOW (Reuters) – The head of NATO said on Sunday that Europe needs to diversify its energy supply, with Britain warning that it is “very likely” that Russia, the continent’s largest supplier, is seeking to invade Ukraine.

Russia has deployed about 120,000 troops alongside its neighbor and has demanded that the Western Defense Alliance withdraw troops and weapons from Eastern Europe and that Ukraine, a former Soviet state, never join the Western Defense Alliance.

U.S. officials said on Saturday that the Russian military had deployed https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/russian-buildup-at-ukraine-border-includ-idUSKBN2K20X6 to include supplies to treat victims of any conflict. In addition to the Ukrainian border, its residents were trained as army reservists https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraina-reservists-gear-up-case-conflict-with-russia-2022-01-29 while the government was preparing.

Moscow denies plans to invade it, but said on Sunday it would ask NATO to clarify whether it intends to implement major security commitments, saying earlier that the alliance’s response to its demands had not gone far enough.

“If they have no intention of doing so, then they should explain why,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on state television. “This will be a key question in determining our future proposals.”

The U.S., which has threatened Ukraine with new sanctions if it invades Ukraine, said it is waiting for Moscow’s response. That NATO will not withdraw from Eastern Europe or exclude Ukraine, but is ready to discuss issues such as arms control and confidence-building measures.

U.S. senators close to https://www.reuters.com/world/us-senate-close-deal-legislation-sanction-russia-senators-2022-01-30 agree on criminal law, said two senior senators are working on bills on Sunday. Among the measures are aimed at Russia’s most significant banks and Russia’s sovereign debt, as well as providing more deadly support to Ukraine.

Some of the sanctions in the bill could be preceded by any invasion of what Russia has already done, said one of the senators, Bob Mendendez, citing cyber attacks on Ukraine, false flag operations and efforts to weaken the Ukrainian government internally.

Washington has spent weeks trying to reach an agreement with European partners on harsh sanctions https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/how-financial-western-sanctions-might-target-russia-2022-01-19 but a package it is divisive, that Germany demands ‘prudence’. https://www.reuters.com/world/germany-urges-prudence-potential-sanctions-against-russia-over-ukraine-2022-01-23

The European Union is dependent on Russia for about a third of its gas supply and any disruption https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-are-europes-options-case-russian-gas-disruption-2022-01 -27 would cause an aggravated energy crisis.

“We are concerned about the energy situation in Europe, which shows the weakness of being too dependent on a natural gas supplier, and that is why NATO allies agree that we need to work and focus on diversification of supply,” said the NATO Secretary General. Jens Stoltenberg said.

PENALTY PLANS

Britain said on Sunday it would extend the scope of its possible sanctions this week to ban Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We think it is very likely that they will want to invade Ukraine. That is why we are doing everything we can through deterrence and diplomacy to demand renunciation,” Foreign Minister Liz Truss told BBC television.

Truss, who will be visiting Ukraine and Russia in the next two weeks, told Sky News that the legislation would allow Britain to pursue a wider range of goals “so that no one believes it will be immune from such sanctions.” .

Asked if the new powers could include the ability to seize London property, Truss said, “There’s nothing off the table.”

The US Center for Progress (US think tank) says Britain will face a challenge https://www.americanprogress.org/article/how-the-united-states-should-respond-if-russia-invades-ukraine desproooting the wealthy Russians with ties to the Kremlin from London gave them “close ties between the Russian currency and the Conservative Party of the UK government, the press and its real estate and financial industry”.

Asked about this, Truss said: “There is a real threat to freedom and democracy in Europe here. And that is more important than short-term economic gains, both for the UK and for our European allies.”

The Biden administration intends to exempt everyday Russians from the burden of U.S. export controls if Russia invades Ukraine, and to target the industrial sector, a White House official said on Saturday. A senior trade official said earlier that “key people” will face “severe penalties”.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to speak to Putin by telephone next week. After being criticized for not doing enough to step up diplomatic efforts, he said he had ordered the military to prepare to help strengthen Europe’s borders.

Stoltenberg said NATO had no plans to send combat troops in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, a non-NATO member, and added that “we are focusing on providing assistance.”

(This story corrects Stoltenberg’s spelling)