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Ursula von der Leyen a few days ago in Brussels: "Although Russia caused this crisis, we all hope that diplomacy will be successful"
Photo: Yves Herman/AP
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized that in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia's exclusion from the Swift payment system and an end to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline are possible.
"I want to say very clearly: nothing is off the table," she said in a CNN interview on Thursday evening when asked about the relevant sanctions.
The EU is Russia's largest trading partner, accounting for around 40 percent of trade in goods, and the largest foreign investor.
"These figures show that we have a strong leverage and that it would be very painful for Russia if the aggression against Ukraine escalated."
In addition, von der Leyen emphasized that they are trying to find a solution at the negotiating table – but are also preparing for the worst.
The NATO states and numerous other countries have criticized a massive Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine.
Secret service agents fear an invasion of the neighboring country.
However, it is also considered conceivable that the deployment is primarily intended to be a means of exerting pressure on the NATO states to accept Russian proposals for new security agreements.
The Swift exclusion has been discussed for some time as the West's reaction to a possible invasion.
As a result, Russian financial institutions would be locked out of the global financial system because Swift is the world's main system for exchanging information on transactions.
However, this could also affect the European economy.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is intended to bring Russian gas to Germany bypassing the Ukraine, has been completed but is not yet operational.
The federal government had also emphasized that stopping the project could be an option.
Biden again assures Ukraine of US support
According to the latest information from the US government, the strength of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border has continued to increase “in the past 24 hours”.
"As for Russian build-ups, we're seeing - also in the past 24 hours - another accumulation of (...) combat troops deployed by the Russians in the western part of their country and in Belarus," Pentagon spokesman John said Kirby on Thursday.
Kirby would not say how many armed forces had recently joined.
The rearmament was not "dramatic," but it wasn't "frozen" either.
In view of the Russian troop deployment, US President Joe Biden again promised his counterpart in Kiev, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US support.
The United States is committed to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Biden said after a White House statement.
The US government is also considering additional financial aid for Kiev because of Russian pressure, Biden said in a conversation with Zelenskyj on Thursday.
Biden has stressed that the US and its allies are ready to respond decisively if Russia attacks Ukraine.
US wants UN Security Council meeting
On Thursday, the United States also requested a meeting of the most powerful UN body for Monday, as the German Press Agency learned from diplomatic circles.
The deliberations of the UN Security Council in New York are to be held in public, probably at 4 p.m. German time.
The US could use the international stage to put pressure on Moscow.
aar/dpa/Reuters
