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UK says ‘all options are on the table’ if Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine
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LONDON (Reuters) -All options would be on the table in how the West responds to any use of chemical weapons in Ukraine by Russia, British armed forces minister James Heappey said on Tuesday.
LONDON (Reuters) -All options would be on the table in how the West responds to any use of chemical weapons in Ukraine by Russia, British armed forces minister James Heappey said on Tuesday.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Monday Britain was working with its partners to verify the details of reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, where thousands are believed to have died during a near-seven week siege.
“There are some things that are beyond the pale, and the use of chemical weapons will get a response and all options are on the table for what that response could be,” Heappey told Sky News, adding that British defence intelligence so far had been unable to verify the reports.
Asked on LBC Radio whether he could rule out this including deploying British or NATO troops on Ukrainian soil, Heappey said: “No, all options are on the table.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that Russia could resort to chemical weapons in his country and called on the West to impose stronger sanctions on Moscow that would deter even talk of using such weapons.
“If chemical weapons have been used, that is a very important moment for our prime minister and other heads of government around the world to consider how we would respond to that,” Heappey told BBC TV.
“(Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin should be clear that the use of chemical weapons is simply not acceptable and he shouldn’t expect the West to stand by if they were used.”
(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Ed Osmond, Stephen Coates and Gareth Jones)
Chemical weapons are toxic chemicals used to harm or kill people during warfare. They can take various forms, including gases, liquids, and solids, and are designed to incapacitate or kill through chemical reactions.
In financial terms, a response refers to the actions taken by individuals or organizations in reaction to specific events or changes in the market, such as adjusting investment strategies or altering financial plans.
Foreign currency refers to the money used in other countries, which is different from the domestic currency. It is often traded in foreign exchange markets and can impact international trade and investment.
An investment portfolio is a collection of financial assets such as stocks, bonds, and other securities held by an individual or institution. It is managed to achieve specific investment goals and risk tolerance.
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