Liz Truss, the UK foreign secretary, has warned Russia that any invasion of Ukraine will only lead to “a deadly lake and loss of life” on the scale of the Soviet-Afghan war.
Speaking at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, Truss established the Ukraine conflict as part of a broader conflict between what he saw as a free and independent state, including Russia and China.
He urged Vladimir Putin to “stop and move back to Ukraine before making a serious strategic mistake”. He said the Kremlin “had not studied history lessons” and that “the attack would lead to a horrific lake and the loss of life, as we know from the Soviet-Afghan war and conflict in Chechnya.”
Trump added: “We need everyone to stand up. Together with our partners, we will continue to stand with Ukraine and urge Russia to lower its level and engage in meaningful dialogue. What is happening in eastern Europe is important to the world. ”
However Biden seemed soft in the recent interview end. While replying reporter’s question he said Russia will face sever consequences if it invades Ukraine but if acquires some its land then we could have a talk to solve the issue. This end statement seemed a bit softer approach which failed to make a warning impression.
Truss said autocracy “was strengthened in a way we have never seen since the Cold War. They want to export dictatorship as a service worldwide. That is why states like Belarus, North Korea and Myanmar find their closest allies in Moscow and Beijing.”
His comments came just hours before senior Russian and American politicians met in Switzerland to discuss growing tensions over Ukraine after a series of meetings between officials on both sides last week were unsuccessful.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Geneva to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov following a European coup aimed at strengthening US commitments to punish Russia if it continues to invade Ukraine.
Truss, along with UK Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace, is in Australia to discuss the next phase of the Aukus partnership, which includes plans for Australia to be given access to US nuclear missile technology.
Aukus, which includes Australia, the US and the UK, was designed to be a comprehensive defense partnership, but its launch in September angered the French by canceling its long-term contract to build diesel-powered submarines.
This week David Hannay, the former UK ambassador to the UN, described the launch of the Aukus and the case taken in Paris as “negotiating harassment”. He added: “In the years to come I suspect that this episode will be taught in higher education institutions around the world as a way to unnecessarily lose friends and authority.”
The September agreement has left much to be desired and there is little doubt that Australia will ever have access to submarine technology. The agreement did not specify whether the UK or US would provide nuclear technology to submarines, how much it would cost, when it would be completed or what part of the submarine would be built in Australia compared to the US or UK. .
During his visit, Truss found himself embroiled in controversy over a proposed UK liquor tax hike with Australian winemakers claiming it would cut off profits from the UK-Australia free trade agreement.
Truss said: “UK taxes are a UK issue and do not discriminate. It is based on the decisions we have to make with our system. ”
What Kamala Harris has to say
Kamala Harris took part in a White House campaign to quell the Joe Biden uprising in Ukraine at a press conference on Wednesday, in which he stated that NATO was divided over how to respond to “minor infiltration” from Russia.
“The president of the United States is very clear, and we as the United States are clear: if Putin takes aggressive action, we will be willing to pay the heavy and heavy costs. Time,” Harris said in a Thursday morning appearance on NBC’s Today Show.
Broadcaster Savannah Guthrie responded that the White House was “uncertain”, issuing a statement just minutes after a Biden press conference confirming a “united response” between the US and its allies.
“Savannah, I’m clear right now. If you are interested, I will continue to be clear, ”Harris replied.
At Wednesday’s two-hour press conference – his second press conference since he took office – Biden made surprising remarks about the decision Nato allies would face in light of the severity of the Russian invasion.