Smoke and fire rising from a Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Share this @internewscast.com

RUSSIA’S economy must be drained to stop bloodthirsty Vladimir Putin invading other countries, an ex-defence minister has warned.

Sir Liam Fox argued seizing Moscow’s assets in Europe and allowing oligarchs to invest in the continent would help paralyse the tyrant’s war fund.

Smoke and fire rising from a Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Smoke and fire rise during a Russian strike on KyivCredit: Reuters
Rescue worker searching for survivors in rubble of bombed building.
A rescue worker looks for survivors in the rubble of a multi-storey residential house destroyed by a Russian strikeCredit: AP
Vladimir Putin speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia on June 20Credit: Getty
Map illustrating Russian military buildup near the Finnish border.

The former trade secretary emphasized that there is no alternative approach for dealing with “FSB thug” Putin, who is determined to recreate the Soviet Union “by all means necessary”.

He told The Sun: “I don’t think there is a military solution to what’s happening in Ukraine. But I think there is a solution in the longer term.”

Sir Fox, who was the UK’s defense minister under former Prime Minister David Cameron, stated that Putin has “severely damaged” his country’s economy, which could offer a significant chance.

The Kremlin’s excessive military expenditures after over three years of conflict in Ukraine have brought Russia “to the verge” of recession, as its economy minister Maxim Reshetnikov cautioned.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas revealed this month how Russia is spending more on defence than the EU’s 27 nations combined.

“That comes, however, at a cost in the medium to long term,” Sir Fox said.

“First of all, it’s much easier to transform an economy from a peace economy into a war economy than vice versa. It requires a great deal of money.”

It comes as a Ukrainian government source this week warned The Sun that Putin could be plotting to exploit the crisis in the Middle East to launch an attack on Nato.

Sir Fox and fellow ex-defence chief Penny Mordant both called for more to be done to bolster the UK’s defences to diminish the threat posed by Vlad.

They warned Putin is the “number one threat” to Britain – and could jeopardise the UK’s security with sabotage attacks.

Putin has lost a MILLION men – Ukraine has killed so many it is running out of ammo

Ms Mordaunt, who was defence secretary during Theresa May’s premiership, urged the UK to turn up the heat on the tyrant.

She told The Sun: “You need to be wide-eyed about what Putin is trying to achieve.

“But you also need to put pressure on him. It’s his war. It’s always been his war to end.

“I applaud what the president [Trump] has been doing to try and bring the conditions for it to come to an end about.

“But we need to apply that pressure.”

Former treasury commissioner Sir Fox said the only way to stop the warmongering dictator from unleashing his forces on other nations is to let Russia’s economy bleed.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago triggered a slew of sanctions from the West – and near-total departure of Western companies from the sprawling nation.

‘UK must bolster defence or pay will blood of its people’, Penny Mordaunt warns

by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital)

BRITAIN will pay with the blood of its people if more money isn’t spent to bolster the UK’s defence, Penny Mordaunt has warned.

The ex-defence secretary has urged the government to “wake up” and fund the UK’s security properly before it’s too late.

Former Navy reservist Mordaunt argued that Britain is “emboldening our enemies” if we fail to invest in other forms of deterrence.

She warned the consequences with be “incalculably grave” if the government does not open up the treasury purse.

Ms Mordaunt told The Sun: “I’m confident that if you prepare for war, you invest in it, you train for it, then conflicts don’t start.

“Because your foes know it is not worth them doing that. They’re going to lose.

“The consequences of retaliation against them are too great.”

READ MORE HERE

Sir Fox said: “We didn’t win the Cold War because we had more or better weapons than the Russians.

“It’s because we had bigger and stronger economies and could outspend them. And this is what we need to do now.

“We need to ensure that the Russian economy pays the price for Putin’s policies. Sadly, that means the Russian people, ultimately.

“But our job is to make sure that that war economy is weakened and that we diminish his ability to wage war elsewhere. So we need to ensure that Russia doesn’t have the money.”

Sir Fox believes this would be best achieved by reversing the policy stopping Russian oligarchs from investing in Europe.

This, he said, will draw more money out of Russia.

“I think we should also seize Russian assets in Europe,” the former doctor added.

“The Russian assets sitting in Europe are more than the combined money that Europe and America have given to Ukraine so far.

“And I think that it’s perfectly reasonable that Russia pays the price for its war making. And you can view it as reparations for Ukraine.

Illustration of Baltic nations' defenses against Russia.

“So the principle is there. And I think in the long term we need to try to make sure that Russia is not able to afford to be able to wage war.

“It’s quite clear that Putin can’t be accommodated.

“There is no way to deal with an FSB thug who is a hardline ideologue who hates the West and wants to recreate the Soviet Union by all means including violence.”

It comes after a top Ukrainian government source warned Putin could hit Europe with a never-seen-before-attack.

The insider said the tyrant could exploit the crisis in the Middle East while the West’s eyes are turned to the embattled region.

Cunning Vlad may even attempt to mimic Ukraine’s elaborate Spiderweb operation that blitzed strategic targets inside Russia.

The source told The Sun: “The West should be prepared that the Spiderweb operation may be reconfigured and deployed by Russia as a hybrid attack on any Nato Eastern flank nation.

“That would be the major Article 5 test that the Alliance has not experienced yet.”

Illustration of Putin's military losses in the war in Ukraine, showing numbers of troops, tanks, planes, ships, artillery guns, helicopters, and armored vehicles lost.
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
For New Yorkers Looking to Flee, a Cautionary Warning: Florida Is Not the Paradise You May Envision

Panic Ensues as DoD Stops Sharing Satellite Weather Data: A Controversial Move Spurs Outrage Among Progressives

The decision isn’t due to financial constraints. It appears the Navy is…
Florida teen threatens to shoot up McDonald's after $5 order is messed up: police

Florida Teenager Allegedly Threatens McDonald’s with Gun over Incorrect $5 Order: Police Report

A teenager in Florida is in custody after allegedly threatening to open…
California man allegedly crafted assassination list targeting federal officials in White supremacist plot

California Man Accused of Creating Hit List Aimed at Federal Officials in White Supremacist Scheme

A California man alleged to be a White supremacist and a member…
Congressional intern killed in Washington, D.C. shooting, police offer reward for multiple suspects

D.C. Shooting Claims Life of Congressional Intern; Police Announce Reward to Capture Suspects

A Congressional intern was shot and killed in Washington, D.C. on Monday…
Mugshot of Ishaan Sharma with a black eye and other injuries.

Disruptive Passenger Ends Up with Severe Black Eye Following Shirtless Fight on Frontier Airlines Flight

A disruptive passenger ended up bruised and embarrassed after initiating a fight…
Why Oasis's feuding Gallagher brothers really reunited

The Real Reason Behind the Gallagher Brothers’ Reunion from Oasis

It’s been nearly 16 years since Oasis’ Liam and Noel Gallagher last…
Tennessee felon Katlyn Wray, leads cops on 4-hour long slow motion chase with speeds of 7 mph in stolen car

Tennessee Convict Katlyn Wray Engages Police in a 4-Hour, 7 mph Pursuit in a Stolen Vehicle

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a police pursuit unfolded at…
'Lilo & Stitch' inches closer to $1 billion at the box office!

‘Lilo & Stitch’ Nears $1 Billion Milestone at the Box Office!

Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” has been a massive hit and continues to…

Ainsley Earhardt Posts Heartwarming Behind-the-Scenes Photos Months Following Engagement to Fox News Colleague Sean Hannity

AINSLEY Earhardt gave fans a look behind the scenes as she filmed…
Chris Drury's heaping praise on Vladislav Gavrikov gives look into Rangers' mindset

Chris Drury Praises Vladislav Gavrikov: Insight into the Rangers’ Strategy

Chris Drury is typically reserved in his expressions, but he made a…
'What are the Republicans waiting for?'

‘Why Are Republicans Delaying Action?’

WASHINGTON — President Trump expressed frustration on social media as a procedural…
House GOP urges quick vote on Trump's tax cuts

Republican Leaders in the House Push for Swift Vote on Trump’s Tax Reduction Plan

Some Republicans are likely to hesitate at approving the Senate bill within…