Watch: We must be prepared to sacrifice to make sure Russia ‘feels the consequences’ says Mark Drakeford
Wales’ First Minister has said that the international community must be prepared to make sacrifices in order to impose the required level of sanctions on Russia to punish Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine.
Mark Drakeford said that Russia would no doubt retaliate by seeking to cut off energy supplies which could drive up prices in the UK.
“Unless the international community is prepared to take those measures at the really intensive end of a sanctions regime, then I’m afraid that it will not send the message that we need to send to the Putin regime,” he told Times Radio.
“And that means we’ve all got to be prepared to make some sacrifices in order to reassert the liberal world order.
He added that the news was “authentically shocking” and that it was an “entirely unprovoked attack on an independent nation”.
“I think we have to be prepared to be part of an international effort that is serious about making sure that the current Russian government feels the consequences of the actions its has chosen to take.
“And that means being prepared to take action that will have a direct consequence on ourselves.
“Because if we take the sort of sanctions that I think is necessary then no doubt there will be retaliatory action, and there will be difficult times ahead for us all.
“It will mean I think some of the things on which we reply on Russia. So obviously gas is the main thing people will think of immediately. That will have an impact on us too because it will drive up energy prices.”
“We’ve all got to be prepared to make some sacrifices in order to reassert the liberal world order.”
Wales first minister Mark Drakeford says alternative arrangement will be needed to cope with energy price rises if Russia were to reduce the supply.@MattChorley | @PrifWeinidog pic.twitter.com/rxWADCFuuS
— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) February 24, 2022
Russian forces launched a major military assault on Ukraine this morning, with reports of missile strikes and explosions across the country.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that a “massive package” of sanctions will be introduced to deter Russia.
The European Union have also said they will freeze Russian assets in the EU and stop the access of Russian banks to the European financial market.
Vladimir Putin however warned that Moscow’s response will be “instant” if anyone tries to take on Russia.
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What have you in mind Mr Drakeford and have you read the Guardian piece by Angus Roxburgh? Best to avoid Westminster and Fat Shanks’ duplicitous maneuverings…
Wales cannot impose sanctions and all he is doing is warning us that effective sanctions will have a cost. This is in stark contrast to Johnson and in line with warnings that various EU member states are issuing to their people.
Johnson is mouthing off about unilateral UK action then doing nothing, Drakeford is calling for a co-ordinated response.
I know that Kerry but thanks anyway. How many folks hereabouts have any holes left in their belts to tighten?
Great. Point us in the right direction and don’t bother routing it through Westminster. They have been pocketing laundered roubles for decades. Plus they owe Putin for Brexit interference
Yes Cynan.Perhaps the city of Westminster bankers , a criminal organisation that make the Mafia look like weekend offenders, Could locate the trillions of laundering they facilitate to ease our burden.
UK sanctions will be ignored by Putin because he bought off Westminster morality a long long time ago. It was cheap.
⬆️ 100% this
We will have to watch out for the Putin Media trolls on sites like this unfortunately…..but their lack of knowledge of our history and life usually shows them up.
Others will be keen to shape opinion by seeing Ukraine 🇺🇦 as ‘ a far off country with which we have little in common’.,..or attacking the two Parliamentarians who recently at their own expense visited
Meanwhile there will be so many Johnson “exceptions” that Russian international trade will actually increase. London’s weak kneed sanctions make me pleased to owe them no loyalty whatsoever.
Good grief, I’m far from being a tory or left winger, so to me Mark Drakefor’s words could easily have been spoken by Putin to the Russian people about the west to justify his tyranny and latest abhorrent actions. Yet again, the Welsh FM playing into the tory’s hands. Sort out our domestic issues MD. The NHS is a mess, and we’re being gazumped out of the country.