In the eastern reaches of Europe, there are fears of a potential military catastrophe on the horizon, and some of the world’s most powerful leaders are now sounding the alarm…and making some threats while they are at it.
The concern comes to us from the border between Russia and Ukraine, where the former is stacking an enormous amount of military assets in what is presumed to be the precursor for a military invasion of the latter.
Should this occur, the Kremlin could pay dearly.
The Group of Seven economic powers told Russia on Sunday to “de-escalate” its military buildup near the Ukrainian border, warning that an invasion would inflict severe economic pain on Moscow. G7 foreign ministers, joined by the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, issued a joint statement declaring themselves “united in our condemnation of Russia’s military buildup and aggressive rhetoric towards Ukraine.” The G7 called on Russia to “de-escalate, pursue diplomatic channels, and abide by its international commitments on transparency of military activities.” The statement praised Ukraine’s “restraint,” the AP reports.
And that wasn’t all.
“Any use of force to change borders is strictly prohibited under international law. Russia should be in no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe cost in response,” the statement said. Russia’s movement of weapons and troops to the border region dominated weekend talks among foreign ministers from the G7 wealthy democracies in the English city of Liverpool. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the conference host, said the G7 was sending a “powerful signal to our adversaries and our allies.” The statement promised a “common and comprehensive response” but contained no details.
Of course, Putin is not known for his level-headed trepidation, so there’s no telling just how this could all turn out.
