Biden: If Russia attacks Ukraine, it will pay a terrible price

(Patria) - US President Joe Biden said on Saturday that he had made it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia would pay a "terrible price" and face devastating economic consequences if it attacks Ukraine, with G7 foreign ministers sending a similar message to Moscow after a meeting in Liverpool.

“I made it very clear to President Putin…that if he moves on Ukraine, the economic consequences for his economy will be devastating, devastating,” Biden told reporters after commenting on the deadly tornadoes that swept through several US states.

Biden reiterated to reporters on Saturday that sending US troops to Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion was “never on the table,” although the US and NATO would have to strengthen NATO's eastern flank, Reuters reports.

Biden told Putin in a two-hour phone call on Tuesday that Russia's position in the world would “significantly” change if it attacks Ukraine.

G7 foreign ministers sent a similar message to Moscow on Saturday after a meeting in Liverpool, warning it of “terrible consequences” and calling on it to return to the negotiating table.

Germany's new foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said the G7 agreed that talks between Kyiv and Moscow should continue in the so-called Normandy format with the mediation of Germany and France, dpa reports.

G7 finance ministers will hold a virtual meeting on Monday on economic issues, including inflation, and should also consider potential sanctions against Russia if it attacks Ukraine, officials said.

Ukraine accuses Russia of massing tens of thousands of troops along the border and preparing for an attack. Russia denies this and accuses Ukraine and the US of destabilising behaviour, demanding security guarantees for its own protection.