US could sanction Putin if Russia invades Ukraine, Biden says

JAN 26: Joe Biden, president of the United States of America, said there would be "enormous consequences" for the world if Russia made a move on the nation, which sits on its south-western border.

His comments came as other Western leaders repeated warnings that Russia would pay a heavy price for invasion.

Russia has accused the US and others of "escalating tensions" over the issue and denies its plans to enter Ukraine.

However, Moscow has built up troops at the border, with some 100,000 Russian soldiers deployed in the region.

Taking questions from reporters, Biden replied "yes" when asked whether he could see himself imposing sanctions on the Russian president personally the event of an invasion.

Separately Biden's administration has said it is working with oil and gas suppliers around the world to boost shipments to Europe in the event of Russia cutting off supplies, the New York Times reports.

Russia currently provides about one-third of the crude oil and gas imported by the European Union.

Earlier UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Western allies would respond to any incursion with "severe" economic sanctions, adding that Britain was prepared to deploy troops to protect Nato allies in the region.

He raised the issue of banning Russia from the Swift international payments system, a move which senior Russian officials said meant Europe would not be able to pay for and receive Russian products.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said dialogue with Moscow would continue.

He would speak by phone to Putin on Friday, he added, and seek clarification about Russia's intentions towards Ukraine.

During crisis talks on Monday, Western powers agreed to "unprecedented" sanctions against Russia if it were to invade.

The US has also put 8,500 troops on alert - partly to help reinforce Nato allies - which Russia said caused it "great concern".

Washington has also warned Russian ally Belarus that it would "face a swift and decisive response" if it assists in an invasion.

The Kremlin has said it sees Nato as a security threat and is demanding legal guarantees that the alliance will not expand further east, including into neighboring Ukraine. But the US has said the issue at stake is Russian aggression, not Nato expansion.

Fears of invasion have prompted Western embassies in Kyiv to withdraw some personnel.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tried to reassure his nation in a TV address on Tuesday.

"There are no rose-colored glasses, no childish illusions, everything is not simple... But there is hope," he said. "Protect your body from viruses, your brain from lies, your heart from panic."

He said he was working to arrange a meeting with the leaders of France, Germany and Russia.

Russia has seized Ukrainian territory before when it annexed Crimea in 2014. After Russian forces seized control, Crimea voted to join Russia in a referendum the West and Ukraine deemed illegal.

Russian-backed rebels also control areas of eastern Ukraine near Russia's borders. That conflict has cost an estimated 14,000 lives, with a 2015 peace deal a long way from being fulfilled.