THE US has warned Vladimir Putin that the West will target Russian gas exports in case of an invasion in Ukraine.
The warning comes after Joe Biden went on a high-stakes call with Joe Biden amid growing fears of a WW3.
According to US officials, Biden told Putin there would be “clear and decisive” consequences in case of an invasion, the Times report.
Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, said that it could include stopping Russian gas exports through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
He said: “If Vladimir Putin wants to see gas flow through that pipeline he may not want to take the risk of invading Ukraine.
“The fundamental object of the policy the United States is pursuing in lockstep with our European allies is to deter a Russian military invasion.”
He added that Biden told the Russian President the US would send more weapons and equipment to Ukraine as well as deploy extra troops on the borders of the Baltics, Poland and Romania, in case of Russian aggression.
He said: “In the event that there is a further invasion into Ukraine many of our partners on the eastern front will be increasingly concerned about the security and territorial integrity of their countries.
“They will be seeking additional capabilities and potentially additional deployments. We’ll be looking to respond positively to those things.”
It comes after Kiev said Moscow has deployed tanks, snipers and bombers in the region as the Russian President is trying to “provoke return fire”.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov told CNN there would be a “really bloody massacre” if Russia decides to invade Ukraine and warned that “Russian guys also will come back in the coffins”.
The defence minister also said that five million Ukrainian refugees are fleeing into Europe amid heightened alarm about troop movements on the nations’ border.
He said: “The red line is here in Ukraine and the civilized world will react without hesitation.”
He also said ahead of the two presidents’ meeting: “If I can advise President Biden, I would like him to articulate to Mr. Putin that no red lines from the Kremlin side should be here. The red line is here in Ukraine and the civilized world will react without hesitation.
“The idea of not provoking Russia will not work.”
Fears of war have been sparked amid concerns Russia is preparing for a massive offensive against Ukraine.
Last week US intelligence detected 175,000 Russian troops on the border with Ukraine as fears of a potential invasion in early 2022 are mounting.
Meanwhile, Moscow claimed its fighter jets intercepted a US spy plane that was flying over the Black Sea.
Russia has denied that it plans to attack Ukraine.
Kiev’s allies have always pledged to support them, but intervening against Russia could risk spiraling into a conflict that could explode into World War 3.
Russia has been demanding Ukraine will not join NATO and raging the US must stop all military activity in the region.
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