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UK to apply sanctions if Russia tries to ‘install puppet regime’ in Ukraine — minister

In response to the question, whether London is considering the possibility to disconnect Russia from SWIFT, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab noted that a wide package of economic and financial restrictions would be imposed against Moscow

UK Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN

UK Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab

© EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN

LONDON, January 23. /TASS/. The UK government is ready to impose tough economic penalties against Moscow if it allegedly tries not only to invade Ukraine but also bring pro-Russian politicians to power, Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab said on Sunday.

"Russia will face serious consequences, if [it] takes this move to try to invade [Ukraine] but also install the puppet regime," Raab told Sky News. In response to the question, whether London is considering the possibility to disconnect Russia from SWIFT, the deputy prime minister noted that a wide package of economic and financial restrictions would be imposed against Moscow.

Furthermore, Raab did not rule out that some penalties against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline would be hammered out jointly with NATO. Meanwhile, the deputy prime minister said that sending British troops to Ukraine in case of Russian invasion was a highly unlikely scenario.

On Saturday, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated that Moscow was planning to bring a pro-Russian government, which allegedly could be headed by former parliamentarian Yevgeny Muraev, to power in Ukraine.

In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry called on the UK to stop provocations. Besides, Muraev slammed London’s allegations as groundless, since he had been under Russian sanctions for three years and had been banned from entering the country, while his father’s assets in Russian banks had been frozen.

The West and Kiev have recently been spreading allegations about Russia’s potential ‘invasion’ of Ukraine. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov castigated these claims as "empty and unfounded", serving as a ploy to escalate tensions, pointing out that Russia did not pose any threat whatsoever to anyone. However, Peskov did not rule out the possibility of provocations aimed at justifying such allegations and warned that attempts to use military force to resolve the crisis in southeastern Ukraine would have serious consequences.

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