Russia warns against the idea of imposing sanctions on Putin, describing them as "devastating"
Moscow condemned threats from Washington to impose direct sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that such steps would be ineffective and harm efforts to reduce tension related to Ukraine.
Officials from France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine are due to meet in Paris on Wednesday as part of a fresh attempt to de-escalate the crisis sparked by fears that Moscow is preparing to invade its pro-Western neighbour. Western countries have warned Russia of severe consequences if it invades Ukraine, and Washington went so far as to announce on Tuesday its readiness to impose sanctions targeting Putin personally.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down the threats, noting that senior Russian officials are basically prohibited from owning assets abroad. But he stressed, however, that such a move would seriously harm diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions over Ukraine. "Politically, this is not painful, it is destructive," Peskov told reporters.
The Kremlin had previously indicated that any US sanctions targeting Putin personally would cross a red line, warning that the move would lead to a break in bilateral relations.
US President Joe Biden said Tuesday that any Russian military attack on Ukraine would have "enormous consequences" that could even "change the world."On Tuesday, a senior US official spoke of potential economic sanctions on Russia that "carry enormous consequences" beyond those imposed in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
Technology Equipment Restrictions
The official said the new measures would include restrictions on exports of US advanced technology equipment related to artificial intelligence, quantum computing and aerospace technology, which "would severely harm Putin's strategic ambitions to industrialize his economy."
The Speaker of the Russian House of Representatives, Vyacheslav Volodin, said Wednesday that Washington's threat to Putin shows that the United States "wants a loyal Russian president that it can control."
"The United States is not satisfied that the Russian Federation has become strong and independent under President Vladimir Putin," Volodin wrote on social media.
Over weeks of talks between Russian, American and European diplomats, Western leaders have repeatedly warned of large-scale economic measures against Moscow in the event of an attack.
It is scheduled to participate in the new round of talks in Paris on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in addition to diplomatic advisers to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Italian commitment
In turn, Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini stressed in a statement that his country will maintain its commitments to NATO in light of the Ukraine crisis, while stressing the need to reach a peaceful solution.
"The alliance moved to strengthen deterrence measures in its eastern flank, which is something that Italy participates in within the framework of the operations and missions approved by Parliament," he said.
"If additional decisions are taken, always within the framework of NATO's deterrence strategy, Italy will contribute to the fullest extent and will do its part," he added.
And NATO announced Monday that it will send planes and ships to reinforce Eastern Europe.
Russia expects this week to receive written American answers to the broad security demands raised by Moscow last year, which aim to significantly reduce the capabilities and dominance of NATO over Eastern Europe and the countries that were affiliated with the Soviet Union.
And Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned in a speech to lawmakers on Wednesday that Moscow would take "all necessary measures" unless constructive responses were obtained and if the West continued its "aggressive policy".