BRITAIN will unveil new sanctions legislation to hit “a much wider variety” of economic targets as part of efforts to deter Russia from invading Ukraine next week, said Foreign Secretary Liz Truss today.

The United Kingdom top diplomat said the draft law will widen the country’s sanctions toolbox so “any company of interest to the Kremlin and regime in Russia” can be targeted.

“There will be nowhere to hide for Vladimir Putin’s oligarchs,” Truss told Sky News.

“What I will be announcing is improved sanctions legislation, so we can target more Russian interests that are of direct relevance to the Kremlin.

“What it enables us to do is hit a much wider variety of targets, so there can be nobody who thinks that they will be immune to those sanctions.”

Relations between Russia and the West are at their lowest point since the Cold War, after the former deployed tens of thousands of troops on the Ukraine border.

The military build-up has prompted fears it is planning an invasion, spooking Nato and its members in the region and prompting the Western alliance to explore bolstering its own deployments there.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday announced that Britain is preparing to offer Nato a “major” deployment of troops, weapons, warships and jets in Europe as soon as next week.

In her interview, Truss warned that European allies must remain united in deterring Moscow, and prioritise “defending democracy and freedom” over “immediate financial issues”.

Germany appears to be taking “a much tougher line” on the controversial pipeline Nord Stream 2 built to relay Russian gas to Europe, she added.

“We cannot favour short-term economic interests over the long-term survival of freedom and democracy in Europe. That is the tough decision all of us have got to make.” – AFP, January 30, 2022.