Paris: French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned Monday that Russia has “all the elements” to launch a “major offensive” against Ukraine after Moscow mustered thousands of soldiers on its border.
“Does the Russian army have all the elements for a major offensive in Ukraine? Yes, there is, it is possible, it will be possible soon,” Le Drian told France 5 television, adding that there was no indication that Moscow had yet to make a decision .
The EU – along with other Western allies – has vowed to impose massive sanctions on Moscow if it further invades Ukraine.
The United States has warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could be imminent, while their Western allies have threatened to respond with a package of economic sanctions.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Monday announced the end of some of Moscow’s large-scale military exercises in Russia and Belarus, but he told Putin that others were underway.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Putin that there was “an opportunity” to strike a deal with the West on security issues, which appeared to be a possible setback amid heightened tensions.
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