Johnson said, during a conference in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, that the Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders showed what he described as “Moscow’s hostility.”
The British Prime Minister expressed his hope that Russia would engage in the diplomatic path that seeks to find a solution to the current crisis.
Johnson’s visit to Ukraine comes as part of Western support for Kiev, amid fears of an imminent “invasion” by Russia.
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the allies’ support, saying that Britain had provided military aid to Kiev.
Security guarantees controversy
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that it was a mistake to strengthen the security of one country at the expense of another, in reference to the Ukraine crisis, which was exacerbated by Moscow’s refusal to join Kiev in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Putin said, during a press conference in Moscow, that his country was seeking to obtain long-term security guarantees, adding that Russia had not received the required response from the West on two prominent security points.
Moscow confirmed that it will not back down in the face of threats to impose US sanctions on it, and the Russian embassy in Washington said on its Facebook account that “Washington is the one who is stoking tensions, not Moscow.”
“We will not back down and listen attentively to threats of US sanctions,” the Russian embassy added, according to AFP.
Eid and anticipation
Washington and the West threaten to impose sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine. President Biden said he was prepared to impose sanctions on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin personally. Washington and Berlin have also hinted at the disruption of the Baltic Sea pipeline, “Nord Stream 2”.
In the meantime, the European side does not hide its concerns about the repercussions of any possible sanctions on gas supplies from Russia, given that Moscow provides up to 40 percent of gas to the old continent.
Since the end of last year, Kiev and its Western allies have accused Russia of mobilizing up to 100,000 soldiers on its western border (with Ukraine) in preparation for its invasion.
On Monday, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said her country had prepared “sanctions targeting members of the Russian elite and their families” if Russia invaded Ukraine.