Ukraine news – live: US and UK could personally sanction Putin over invasion as Russia holds military drills

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.

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

‘Beijing Olympics could influence Putin’s decision’ – US

14:52 , Lamiat Sabin

China would not be pleased if Russia invades Ukraine around the start of the Winter Olympics, the US deputy secretary of state has said.

Wendy Sherman said that an invasion of Ukraine would upset Chinese president Xi Jinping if it coincides with the Games starting next month.

She said that there have been indications suggesting that, if Vladimir Putin decides to go to war, it could happen between now and mid-February.

“We all are aware that the Beijing Olympics are beginning on February 4th, the opening ceremony, and President Putin expects to be there,” she said.

“I think that probably President Xi Jinping would not be ecstatic if Putin chose that moment to invade Ukraine. So that may affect his timing and his thinking.”

Ms Sherman made the comments during virtual talks hosted by Yalta European Strategy.

14:22 , Lamiat Sabin

Some more details about the US fighter jets that landed in Estonia today:

• Six F-15 jets were deployed by the US

• They landed in the Amari airbase in the county Harju

• The jets will be deployed for a week and a half

• The aircraft will enhance Nato’s Baltic Air Policing mission, Nato said

• Former Soviet nations Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania do not operate fighter jets and rely on Nato to police their airspace

Spain warns Russia over potential serious economic hit

13:50 , Lamiat Sabin

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez has warned that Russian military intervention in Ukraine would lead to massive economic consequences for Russia.

He spoke at a news conference with his Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin today.

Mr Sanchex did not give details on what sanctions Russia might face but said they would be serious.

Ms Marin said the option of Finland joining Nato must remain on the table.

Reuters

US fighter jets land in Estonia, according to Lithuania

13:30 , Lamiat Sabin

American F-15 jets landed in an Estonian airbase today, the Lithuanian defence ministry said.

Denmark has said it will deploy four F-16 fighter jets to a nearby Lithuanian airbase in Siauliai on Thursday.

It comes as Nato reinforces its eastern flank due to frictions with Russia over Ukraine.

Germany to send thousands of helmets to Ukrainian soldiers

13:15 , Lamiat Sabin

Germany is to send 5,000 helmets to Ukrainian troops, according to German reports.

Christine Lambrecht, Germany’s defence minister, has decided to fulfil the request from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (APU) for the helmets – news agency DPA reported.

She had announced this decision at a meeting of the Bundestag Defense Committee.

DPA has reported that Berlin still opposes the idea of supplying weapons to Ukraine.

Vitali Klitschko, mayor of Kiev, who had been a boxing world champion, had said in an interview with the Bild newspaper that Germany’s refusal to supply weapons constitues a “betrayal of friends in a dramatic situation”.

He called the delivery of 5,000 helmets a “joke”, adding: “What kind of support will Germany send next? Pillows?”

‘Russia should arm separatists in eastern Ukraine’ – lawmaker

12:45 , Lamiat Sabin

Moscow should supply two pro-Russia regions in eastern Ukraine with weapons, it has been suggested by a politician.

Andrey Turchak, a senior member of the ruling United Russia party that backs President Vladimir Putin, said that Russia should arm the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) in Donbass.

According to Russian reports, Mr Turchak said: “I believe that in these conditions Russia should provide the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics with necessary assistance in the form of supplies of certain types of weapons to increase their defense capability and deter military aggression clearly being prepared by Kiev.”

Russia‘s parliament is planning to hold consultations on an idea to appeal to Putin to formally recognise the separatist groups.

In May 2014, the DPR declared its independence from Ukraine after the Ukrainian revolution that year, alongside the LPR and the Republic of Crimea.

Russia threatens retaliation if Ukraine demands not met

12:15 , Thomas Kingsley

Russia warned today that it would quickly take “retaliatory measures” if the US and its allies reject its security demands and continue their aggressive policies, ratcheting up pressure on the West amid concerns that Moscow is planning to invade Ukraine.

Speaking to lawmakers Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he and other top officials will advise President Vladimir Putin on the next steps after receiving written replies from the United States to the demands. Those answers are expected this week — even though the U.S. and its allies have already made clear they will reject the top Russian demands.

“If the West continues its aggressive course, Moscow will take the necessary retaliatory measures,” he sai

While Russia is currently waiting for the American reply, Lavrov indicated it wouldn't wait forever: “We won't allow our proposals to be drowned in endless discussions,” he said.

Ukraine-Russia map: Where could invasion take place and what is the situation along the border?

12:00 , Thomas Kingsley

US secretary of state Anthony Blinken staged talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Geneva late last week in the hope of averting catastrophe, warning against a return to the bitter tensions of the Cold War era, while other nations have evacuated their diplomatic personnel from Ukraine as a precaution in case the fighting should commence.

Mr Putin is known to fiercely oppose his neighbour’s determination to join Nato in search of greater protection and is believed to desire the return of former Soviet satellite states like Ukraine, Georgia and perhaps Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to the embrace of what he still considers to be their motherland, lamenting their independence since the collapse of the USSR in 1989.

Our reporter, Joe Sommerlad, has the full report below:

Map of Ukraine-Russia region as crisis deepens in Europe

Rome is a key partner for Moscow, Putin tells Italian businesses

11:45 , Thomas Kingsley

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.

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

11:30 , Thomas Kingsley

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.

Italian government asks firms not to join meeting with Putin

11:15 , Thomas Kingsley

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.

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

11:00 , Thomas Kingsley

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.

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

10:48 , Thomas Kingsley

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.

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

10:45 , Thomas Kingsley

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

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

10:30 , Thomas Kingsley

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.”

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

10:15 , Thomas Kingsley

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

Russia holds military drills before crunch talks

10:00 , Thomas Kingsley

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.

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

09:45 , Thomas Kingsley

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.”

ICYMI: Biden planning to ‘maximise pain’ for Russia if it invades Ukraine

09:30 , Thomas Kingsley

The United States is preparing a sweeping tranche of economic sanctions to “maximize pain in the Kremlin” if Russia invades Ukraine, The Independent has been told by a US government source.

These could include blocking financial transfers from Russia’s three biggest banks, two additional sources said.

Some 100,000 Russian troops are believed to have been deployed by Moscow to Ukraine’s border with Belarus. British armed forces minister, James Heappey, has said that Russian forces are already in Ukraine. Experts on the region said that an invasion was now more probable than not.

Our economics editor, Anna Isaac, has the full story below:

US plans sanctions to ‘maximize pain’ for Russia if it invades Ukraine

Markets ‘nervous’ about Ukraine-Russia tensions, expert says

09:15 , Thomas Kingsley

Chief strategist at Brewin Dolphin Guy Foster, one of the UK’s largest wealth management funds said the markets are “nervous” about Ukraine-Russia tensions.

Speaking to GB News this morning, he said: “Ukraine is one thing the markets are nervous about, but it’s not really the primary driver. That’s ​been inflation and interest rates.

“Often markets take strangely sanguine views about these geopolitical events particularly military conflict, often they perceive it doesn’t have much economic impact that the man on the street would normally expect but the interesting thing with Ukraine is that it has the potential to spill into that inflation story particularly obviously because of the strong linkage between Russia and the energy markets and Ukraine as a conduit of energy from Russia and into Europe so that’s where the concern about a standoff is intensifying the high energy prices we’re all frustrated by”

Foreign secretary Liz Truss said Russia would face ‘severe sanctions’ in the event of an incursion into Ukraine

09:00 , Thomas Kingsley

Foreign secretary Liz Truss said Russia would face “severe sanctions” in the event of an incursion into Ukraine.

Speaking to Sky News she said: “We are already supplying support to Ukraine. We're supplying defensive weapons. We're providing economic support.

“We are urging Russia to desist from an incursion and we're making it very clear that if they were to do that there would be severe economic cost to Russia - severe sanctions.”

On what these sanctions could look like, she said: “They would target individuals, they would target financial institutions and they would be co-ordinated with all of our allies across Europe, the United States and others.”

Asked if the Government would support individual sanctions against President Vladimir Putin, Ms Truss said she was not “ruling anything out”.

“We're not ruling anything out and we will be bringing forward new legislation to make our sanctions regime tougher so we are able to target more companies and individuals in Russia,” she said.

Pressed on whether this would include the president, she said: “I'm not ruling that out.”

Pope Francis marks day of prayer over Ukraine-Russia tensions

08:45 , Thomas Kingsley

Pope Francis has called for today (26 January) to be a day of prayer over the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Writing on Twitter he said: “I am following with concern the increase of tensions that threaten to inflict a new blow to peace in Ukraine and call into question the security of the European Continent. Therefore, I propose that next Wednesday, 26 January be a day of prayer for peace.”

Ukraine 'will not accept' concessions to Russia, Foreign Minister says

08:30 , Thomas Kingsley

Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said the nation “will not allow anyone to impose any concessions on us” in efforts to de-escalate the threat of a potential conflict with Russia.

Mr Kuleba told CNN that Ukraine would not accept any compromises aimed at placating Russian president Vladimir Putin amid ongoing fears that Russia may be planning to invade Ukraine - allegations Moscow denies.

“If anyone makes a concession on Ukraine, behind Ukraine’s back, first, we will not accept that. We will not be in the position of the country that picks up the phone, hears the instruction of the big power and follows it,” said Kuleba.

Russia attempting to ‘destabilise’ Ukrainian democracy, says Lizz Truss

08:15 , Thomas Kingsley

UK foreign secretary Liz Truss said Russia is making attempts to destabilise Ukrainian democracy from the inside.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning, she said: “What we’re seeing is Russian operations such as cyber attacks, the attempt to install a puppet regime into Kiev as well as false flag operations so as well as potentially a major incursion we’re seeing attempts by Russia to destabilise Ukrainian democracy.”

Government ‘concerned’ about impact of Russian navy exercises on Irish Whales

08:00 , Thomas Kingsley

An Irish junior minister has written to the Russian ambassador to warn that planned naval exercises could threaten to damage marine life.

Malcolm Noonan, a junior minister in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, said that he was “deeply concerned” about the planned military exercises, which have prompted public criticism from the Irish Government.

The Russian artillery drills, at the start of February, will take place in international waters but within Irish-controlled airspace and the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In a statement, Mr Noonan said: “While we do not know the nature of these exercises, we do know that underwater sounds such as active military sonar can have devastating consequences for cetaceans including some of our rarest marine mammal species, notably the deep-diving and rarely-seen blue whale, sperm whale and beaked whales.”

“It can cause significant disruption to their hearing systems and normal behaviour, and may lead to permanent or even lethal injury."

Mr Noonan said that he had written to Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and the Russian Ambassador Yury Filatov to express his concerns.

The minister said that Irish scientists have been mapping and surveying Irish marine mammals closely for several years. “Ireland's marine mammals have been the focus of considerable research efforts over the last three decades and the understanding of species occurrence, abundance and distribution has improved markedly in that time," Mr Noonan said.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said on Tuesday that planned Russian navy exercises off the Irish coast are “not welcome”.

ICYMI: Why would Russia invade Ukraine?

07:45 , Thomas Kingsley

With more than 106,000 Russian troops stationed near the Ukrainian border, fears are growing that president Vladimir Putin will decide to invade, our reporter Rory Sullivan writes.

The threat comes eight years after Russia annexed Crimea and sparked fighting in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, where a low-level conflict, which has killed more than 14,000 people, is still rumbling on between Kyiv and separatists.

Although the West hopes to alleviate tensions and the risk of war in the region, talks between the Kremlin and Nato have made no ground. And so, as things stand, it is far from clear what will happen next.

Read the full story below:

Why is Russia threatening Ukraine?

Why Germany is refusing to arm Ukraine even if it upsets allies

07:30 , Shweta Sharma

Germany is the world’s fourth largest exporter of weapons, selling state-of-the-art arms worth billions of dollars to countries with questionable human rights records such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia without batting an eye.

Yet Nato’s second largest country has turned a deaf ear to increasingly urgent requests from Ukraine for defensive weapons even though most other nations in the north Atlantic alliance are rushing material to the threatened eastern Europe country, which is braced for a possible attack from its powerful neighbour Russia.

Erik Kirschbaum details why Germany is refusing to join other Nato nations in providing defensive weapons to Ukraine.

Sticking to its guns: Why Germany is refusing to arm Ukraine even if it upsets allies

‘What choice have we got?’: Ukraine’s volunteer army prepares for war

07:10 , Shweta Sharma

As fears over a war with Russia grow, Ukraine’s forces are being bolstered by a collection of citizen soldiers.

The Independent’s Kim Sengupta in Kyiv talks to those who are preparing for imminent invasion.

Ukraine's Japan envoy says 'full-scale war' unlikely

06:45 , Shweta Sharma

Sergiy Korsunsky, Ukraine’s ambassador to Japan, says his country is committed to seeking a diplomatic resolution to the tensions with Russia.

He said that despite the present crisis he sees little chance of a full-blown war breaking out.

“I believe that full-scale war is very, very, very difficult to expect, but we may see more localised conflict,” Mr Korsunsky told a news conference in the Japanese capital.

“If we come to military terms, let me tell you, we are very much ready, our army is very well prepared.”

Russia decries ‘Russophobia’ and Ukraine ‘flooded’ with weapons to UN

06:20 , Shweta Sharma

Russia accused the US of “cultivating Russophobia” among its citizens and like-minded states in the world and said Ukraine has been “flooded” with weapons from the US and Nato.

“Cultivating Russophobia among its citizens and like-minded states, talking about the accumulation of Russian troops as almost the root cause of all problems, [the US] forgets to clarify that the talk is about Russian forces on Russian territory,” the mission said.

“This is in contrast to the American and Nato weaponry and countless advisers that have flooded Ukraine and some other states close to the Russian borders,” it added.

It also raised questions over the American navy’s presence near the Russian coast and accused the US of increasing tension in the Black Sea region.

The Russian mission also accused the US of supporting militants in Syria’s capital Idlib and strengthening positions with a militant group once affiliated with al-Qaeda called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

“Under the pretext of caring for the Syrians forcibly held by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib as a human shield, American diplomacy, at the expense of its taxpayers, actually supports the militants,” it said.

“By strengthening the positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Washington is shooting itself in the foot, declaring its commitment to the territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic.”

The statement was in response to the US Permanent Mission’s press release to the UN on 22 January in which Washington called out Moscow over its “top five persistent disinformation narratives”.

German chancellor warns of 'grave consequences' if Russia invades

05:54 , Shweta Sharma

In a conference after meeting French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor urged Russia to take steps to de-escalate the situation with Ukraine.

“An important issue is also how to act jointly in relation to a very serious situation along the Ukrainian-Russian border. There are a lot of military personnel stationed there, so everything must be done so that the situation develops differently than the way it is sometimes feared,” Mr Scholz said.

“We therefore expect from Russia unequivocal steps that would contribute to the de-escalation of the situation. And we are unanimous that military aggression will entail grave consequences.”

He said negotiations are welcomed from Russia through various formats, including Normandy format – talks including Germany, Russia, Ukraine, and France.

“It should be so. We take the situation seriously, we clearly say what will happen if it comes to military aggression - it happens. And thirdly, at the same time we are doing everything to get out of this situation through talks,” he said.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would be ‘largest since WW2’: Biden

05:18 , Shweta Sharma

President Joe Biden issued stark remarks on Tuesday, warning that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “would be the largest invasion since World War II”.

Mr Biden also warned that his office could consider personal sanctions on Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin if he attacks Ukraine, in a rare threat, as Nato has placed forces on standby.

Mr Biden made the statements during a surprise visit to a newly opened gift store near the Capitol named Honey Made.

When asked he will see himself imposing sanctions on Mr Putin directly if Russia invaded Ukraine. “Yes,” he responded. “I would see that.”

US to discuss energy supply with Qatar amid fears Russia could cut Europe off

02:30 , Liam James

Joe Biden will discuss global energy security with the leader of Qatar next week, the White House said amid concerns that Russia could cut off gas supplies to Europe.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will meet the president in the White House as the US launched talks with energy-producing states and firms bout a potential diversion of supplies to Europe if Russia invades Ukraine.

Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, discussed the matter with the foreign minister of Qatar, a top liquefied natural gas producer, in a phone call on Monday, according to a source familiar with the matter who requested anonymity.

Mr Tamim's meeting with Mr Biden at the White House will provide the leaders with an opportunity to discuss “ensuring the stability of global energy supplies,” Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, said in a statement.

Washington is concerned that Russia, which has massed more than 100,000 troops on Ukraine's borders, could invade its neighbor, triggering US and European sanctions that would prompt the Kremlin to halt deliveries of Russian gas to Europe.

UK and US discuss banning Russia from global payment platform

01:30 , Liam James

Boris Johnson said he was discussing banning Russia from the Swift global payments system with the United States.

Asked about the Swift payment system and whether Britain would ban Russia, Mr Johnson said: “There is no doubt that that would be a very potent weapon.”

“I'm afraid it can only really be deployed with the assistance of the United States though. We are in discussions about that.”

Banishment from Swift would disrupt the international payments of Russian firms and institutions.

The US is preparing a sweeping tranche of economic sanctions to “maximise pain in the Kremlin” if Russia invades Ukraine, The Independent has been told by a US government source.

These could include blocking financial transfers from Russia’s three biggest banks, two additional sources said.

Western leaders warn Russia it will pay high price if it invades Ukraine

00:30 , Liam James

French president Emmanuel Macron told Russia that it would “pay a high price” if any invasion of Ukraine went ahead (Thomas Kingsley writes).

Mr Macron’s warning came as he met new German leader Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Tuesday as eleventh-hour discussions to avert war in Europe continued.

“If there is an attack, there will be retaliation and the price [for Russia] will be very high,” Mr Macron said. He added that recent talks were a “god thing” but were yet to show any clear results.

His comments came on another day of fevered diplomatic discussions with British prime minister Boris Johnson also warning against any military action on Russia’s part, claiming it would prove “tragic and futile”.

He told the House of Commons: “If Russia pursues this path, many Russian mothers’ sons will not be coming home.”

Western leaders warn Russia it will pay high price if it invades Ukraine

Ukraine situation ‘not de-escalating’ yet, says US State Department

Tuesday 25 January 2022 23:30 , Liam James

The situation with Russian troops at the Ukraine border is not considered to be moving in the right direction, the US State Department said.

Ned Price, the US State Department spokesman, said in a press briefing: ‘I don’t think we’ve seen any concrete evidence of de-escalation just yet

’”We haven’t seen the de-escalation that is necessary for diplomacy and dialogue to be successful.

“There is not a precondition for dialogue and diplomacy, but there is a precondition for that dialogue and diplomacy moving in the right direction … and that precondition is de-escalation.”

Biden warns Russia of ‘enormous global consequences’ of Ukraine invasion

Tuesday 25 January 2022 22:38 , Liam James

Joe Biden has said there would be “enormous consequences” globally if Russia invaded Ukraine.

Russia is thought to have amassed more than 100,000 troops on the border with its neighbour and is feared to be planning an invasion. Western leaders are anticipating Russia’s next move.

Talking to reporters about the US approach to the situation on a visit to a gift shop in DC, Mr Biden said: “There would be enormous consequences if he were to go in and invade - as he could - the entire country ... for Russia, not only in terms of economic consequences and political consequences but enormous consequences worldwide.”

“If he were to move in with all those forces, it would be the largest invasion since World War II. It would change the world.”

Russia-Ukraine: Key points from Tuesday

Tuesday 25 January 2022 22:30 , Liam James

9am: ‘Russian military associates already in Ukraine’, says UK defence minister [post]

11am: UK would face record-high gas prices if Russia invades Ukraine [post]

1pm: Boris Johnson warns Putin invasion of Ukraine would be ‘tragic and futile’ [post]

2pm: UK foreign secretary Liz Truss to visit Ukraine [post]

5pm: French president Macron to call Putin on friday for "clarification" on Ukraine situation [post]

6pm: Ukraine president urges public not to panic [post]

7pm: US prepares sanctions to ‘maximise pain’ for Russia if it invades Ukraine [post]

Russia-Ukraine escalation likely to force energy prices up

Tuesday 25 January 2022 21:40 , Liam James

An escalated conflict between Russia and Ukraine would likely force energy prices higher for many countries, sustaining high inflation rates, a top International Monetary Fund (IMF) official has said.

Gita Gopinath, second in command at the IMF, said the situation now was far different than in 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine, and energy prices fell quite sharply amid low demand and ample shale gas supplies.

“This time around ... if this conflict were to happen, you would see an increase in energy prices,” Ms Gopinath told Reuters, noting the current crisis was unfolding in winter and natural gas reserves were much lower in Europe.

Prices of other commodities exported by Russia such as were also rising, and could trigger a “bigger, broad-based increase” in commodities prices if the conflict ratcheted up, she told Reuters after the release of the IMF's updated World Economic Outlook.

Russia's economy contracted by 3.7 per cent in 2015 due to falling oil prices and international sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea.

The IMF currently estimates that Russia's economy will grow 2.8 per cent in 2022, but that forecast does not include concerns about the conflict, Ms Gopinath said.

Watch: Biden says he will personally sanction Putin if Russia invades Ukraine

Tuesday 25 January 2022 21:05 , Liam James

‘Encouraging’ signs from Biden against Russian aggression, says McConnell

Tuesday 25 January 2022 20:30 , Rory Sullivan

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the US senate, is a frequent critic of Joe Biden.

However, he said on Tuesday that the US president’s administration is “moving in the right direction” regarding its response to the crisis in Ukraine.

Last week, Mr McConnell said Mr Biden had “telegraphed passivity and weakness” to the Kremlin, which has amassed more than 100,000 troops at the Ukrainian border.

But this view appears to have changed. “What I’ve been hearing since then is encouraging, that they’re prepared to take steps before an incursion, not afterwards,” he said in Kentucky.

More US military hardware lands in Ukraine

Tuesday 25 January 2022 20:10 , Rory Sullivan

The US has delivered more military hardware to Ukraine amid the threat of a Russian incursion.

Anti-tank missiles were seen being unloaded on Tuesday, as part of Washington’s $200m security package supporting Kyiv.

Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov thanked his allies for the latest delivery.

“Javelins in Kyiv! A new cargo of security aid - launchers & missiles - with a total weight of about 80 tons. We expect the arrival of the 4th from the big flock of birds soon,” he tweeted.

Biden to consider sanctioning Putin

Tuesday 25 January 2022 19:48 , Rory Sullivan

Joe Biden said the US will consider the unusual step of imposing sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin if he invades Ukraine.

When asked if he would contemplate such a move under those circumstances, the American president said: “Yes, I would see that.”

The US generally does not bring sanctions against leaders of other countries. However, Mr Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump did so against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in 2017 and against Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2019.

US prepares sanctions to ‘maximise pain’ for Russia if it invades Ukraine | Exclusive

Tuesday 25 January 2022 19:15 , Liam James

The United States is preparing a sweeping tranche of economic sanctions to “maximise pain in the Kremlin” if Russia invades Ukraine, The Independent has been told by a US government source (Anna Isaac writes).

These could include blocking financial transfers from Russia’s three biggest banks, two additional sources said.

The first US official said that the US, working with its partners and allies is “preparing massive sanctions” that are far beyond any measures which were on the table in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. These could include export controls, as well as financial sanctions.

They will be designed to “maximise pain the Kremlin while also minimising the spillover” elsewhere, the US government source said.

Read the full report here:

US plans sanctions to ‘maximize pain’ for Russia if it invades Ukraine

Biden doesn’t plan to send troops to Ukraine, says White House

Tuesday 25 January 2022 18:56 , Liam James

Joe Biden does not intend to send troops to Ukraine, the White House said after US forces were put on alert to potentially deploy to Europe to support Nato forces.

Alert was raised for some 8,500 US troops on Monday as the Pentagon sought to reassure Nato allies in the face of a Russian military build-up.

This afternoon, Jen Psaki, White House spokesperson, said: “Just to be clear: there is no intention or interest or desire by the president to send troops to Ukraine. Nato is a forum to support our eastern flank partners and countries, and that's what the focus has been on.”

John Kirby, Pentagon spokesman, said on Monday that the bulk of the 8,500 troops were being put on alert for possible deployment to Nato territory in eastern Europe so they could join a rapid response force if called on.

Nato sent reinforcements to eastern Europe on Monday. It has about 4,000 multinational troops in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, backed by tanks, air defences and intelligence and surveillance units.

Boris Johnson said the UK was also prepared to deploy troops to bolster Nato forces if Russia invades Ukraine as feared.

Ukraine president urges public not to panic

Tuesday 25 January 2022 18:28 , Liam James

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has urged the public to stay calm about the threat of a Russian invasion and said he was working towards a meeting between the leaders of Russia, France and Germany.

In a televised video address, Zelensky said the withdrawal of personnel from Western embassies in Kyiv did not mean a military escalation with Russia was inevitable.

He said: “There are no rose-coloured glasses, no childish illusions, everything is not simple .... But there is hope.

”Protect your body from viruses, your brain from lies, your heart from panic.“

France and Germany supported talks for a ceasefire in Ukraine's Donbas region in 2015, where Russia backed separatist fighters. The two EU countries said they support the independence of Ukraine.

Political advisers from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany are set to meet in Paris tomorrow.

Emmanuel Macron, president of France, said he will speak on the phone with Vladimir Putin on Friday.

Finland’s military stirs as Russia builds up troops by Ukraine

Tuesday 25 January 2022 18:04 , Liam James

Finland said tension over the Ukraine situation has spurred a change in its military.

“Readiness [of the Finnish Defence Forces] has been enhanced due to the fact that the situation in nearby areas has become more unstable,” said Colonel Petteri Kajanmaa, head of the warfare department at the Finnish National Defence University.

Finland, which is not a member of Nato and has a long border and a difficult history with Russia, has provided no details of how its “military readiness” has changed.

Col Kajanmaa said Finland was not the target of any military threat but the defence forces still needed to be prepared for any potential action.

He said: “The more military action there is, even if it was just innocent movement, the higher the risk that something happens, someone overreacts or misunderstands and we need to be ready for all that.”

France’s Macron: Russia becoming force for destabilisation

Tuesday 25 January 2022 17:40 , Liam James

Emmanuel Macron, president of France, said Russia was becoming a force for destabilisation as he joined Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, at a press conference in Berlin.

He said he will ask Vladimir Putin for clarification on the Ukraine situation when they call one another on Friday.

France and Germany will not abandon dialogue with Russia but the price will be high if Moscow choose to invade Ukraine as feared, he said.

France and Germany ‘keen for de-escalation’

Tuesday 25 January 2022 17:18 , Liam James

Reports have said that Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, said they are both “keen for de-escalation” of the current tension surrounding Ukraine. We will let you know more as we hear it.

Mr Macron and Mr Scholz were in the meeting last night between Nato leaders including Joe Biden and Boris Johnson where unity in the face of the threat from Russia was at the top of the agenda.

US in talks with major energy producing countries in light of Ukraine crisis

Tuesday 25 January 2022 16:09 , Holly Bancroft

The United States is in talks with major energy-producing counties over supplies if Russia invades Ukraine, Reuters have reported.

Senior Biden administration officials told reporters that they were in talks to ensure an uninterrupted energy flow into Europe.

“We’ve been working to identify additional volumes of non- Russian natural gas from various areas of the world; from North Africa and the Middle East to Asia and the United States,” a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity.

“Correspondingly, we’re ... in discussions with major natural gas producers around the globe to understand their capacity and willingness to temporarily surge natural gas output and to allocate these volumes to European buyers.”

Don’t put yourselves at risk over Russian military exercises, Irish fishermen told

Tuesday 25 January 2022 15:54 , Holly Bancroft

Fishermen who plan to protest Russia’s military exercises off the coast of Ireland have been warned not to put themselves at risk by the country’s deputy premier.

Patrick Murphy, chief executive of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, said some of its members plan to hold a protest against the military exercises next month.

When asked about the fisherman’s plans, Leo Varadkar said on Tuesday: “I haven’t had the chance to speak to any of the fishermen operating in that area.

“I suppose I would just say to them that these are military vessels. Whatever they choose to do in terms of any protests, just make sure that they don’t put themselves at risk.”

He added: “We have made it very clear that these exercises are not welcome, particularly in the current context, when tensions are rising in relation to Ukraine.”

Read the full story here:

Don’t put yourselves at risk over Russia exercises plan, Irish fishermen told

Russia may already have personnel in place in Ukraine to assist with invasion, UK minister says

Tuesday 25 January 2022 15:40 , Holly Bancroft

Defence secretary Ben Wallace has told MPs that there are individuals already in Ukraine that are “linked to the Russian state in ways that are not conventional” and “that should give cause for concern.”

He added: “We are becoming aware of a significant number of individuals that are assessed to be associated with Russian military advance force operations that currently are located in Ukraine.”

Mr Wallace warned Russia against any incursion into Ukraine, saying: “Any crossing into Ukraine, whether small or large, would be viewed as a breach of that sovereignty, against international law and an invasion.

“You can’t be half-pregnant, you are either invading a country or you are not”.

Canada withdrawing families of diplomats in Ukraine

Tuesday 25 January 2022 15:26 , Holly Bancroft

Canada announced on Tuesday that it is temporarily withdrawing the families of its diplomats in Ukraine because of rising tensions.

“Due to the ongoing Russian military buildup and destabilizing activities in and around Ukraine, we have decided to temporarily withdraw Canadian embassy staff’s children under 18 years of age and family members accompanying them,” the Canadian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia runs new military exercises

Tuesday 25 January 2022 14:57 , Holly Bancroft

Russia launched new military exercises on Tuesday, including with short-range ballistic missile units.

Russia’s Western Military District announced the exercises to “comprehensively check forces’ combat readiness.”

Other drills, with aviation units from the Southern Military District and Black Sea Fleet, were also announced.

More than 60 fighter jets and bombers were to take part in the exercise and some units near to Ukraine and in Crimea were involved.

Ukraine’s volunteer army prepares for war

Tuesday 25 January 2022 14:45 , Rory Sullivan

Faced with a potential Russian invasion, Ukraine is bolstering its army with new recruits.

Many Ukrainian civilians have volunteered to defend their land in the event of a war.

“What choice have we got? We need to be united and be ready for anything,” Oleksii Bida, a 47-year-old graphic designer, told The Independent this week.

Here’s the full report from Kim Sengupta:

‘What choice have we got?’: Ukraine’s volunteer army prepares for war

Explainer: What is the Russian-Ukrainian crisis?

Tuesday 25 January 2022 14:26 , Rory Sullivan

Trouble has been brewing for weeks on the Russian-Ukrainian border, as Moscow contemplates an offensive against its neighbour.

But why might the Kremlin invade? And how has the international community responded to the Russian military build-up?

My colleague Thomas Kingsley has the details:

Everything you need to know about the Ukraine-Russia crisis