Russian oligarchs can be hit with harder sanctions that would embrace the seizure of London property in a bid to discourage Russian president Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine, the U.Okay.'s international secretary has stated.

Liz Truss stated deterring Putin from taking motion was "the primary precedence" amid escalating tensions over Russia's build-up of troops on its border with Ukraine.

"That is we're providing to deploy additional troops into Estonia, we're offering extra air assist throughout the Black Sea, and we're supplying defensive weapons to Ukraine to verify they're in the very best place ought to Vladimir Putin attempt to stage an incursion," Truss stated in an look on Sky Information' Trevor Phillips On Sunday.

The international secretary additionally stated she would announce "improved laws on sanctions" later this week that's geared toward focusing on "extra Russian pursuits which can be of direct relevance to the Kremlin."

"In fact we'll use diplomacy," Truss stated, including that she could be touring to Ukraine this week and Moscow the next week.

"Nevertheless, the primary factor that may cease Vladimir Putin taking motion is that if he understands the prices of that motion. This might lead to a quagmire and he ought to be effectively conscious of that."

Present U.Okay. legal guidelines on financial sanctions are "pretty narrowly drawn, so we might solely goal firms with a direct involvement in destabilizing Ukraine," Truss stated.

"What we need to do is widen that, so any firm of curiosity to the Kremlin and the regime in Russia would be capable of be focused.

"So there can be nowhere to cover for Putin's oligarchs, for Russian firms concerned in propping up the Russian state. That's what we're doing this week."

U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss
U.Okay. Overseas Secretary Liz Truss arrives at BBC Broadcasting Home on January 30, 2022 in London, England. Holly Adams/Getty Photographs

She didn't rule out the likelihood that the harder sanctions might embrace the property of Russian oligarchs being seized in London.

"Nothing is off the desk," Truss stated. "We're not going to enter the main points of precisely who and the way we'd goal the sanctions. What the laws allows us to do is hit a a lot wider number of targets, so there can no one who thinks they might be resistant to these sanctions."

Though Truss stated she was "ruling completely nothing out" by way of the U.Okay.'s assist for Ukraine, she stated out was "most unlikely" that British troops could be deployed to struggle alongside Ukrainians.

In an opinion piece for The Telegraph newspaper, Truss stated it's "very important we face down the clear and current menace posed by Russia," which was "undermining the very basis of European safety."

She stated U.Okay. Prime Minister Boris Johnson would "spearhead diplomatic efforts" by speaking to Putin and touring to the area within the coming days.

Truss stated the U.Okay. is sending quick jets, warships and army specialists and doubling troop numbers to Estonia.

The U.Okay. is "becoming a member of forces with our allies to point out that there can by no means be rewards for aggression," Truss added. "By standing up for our concepts and beliefs, we'll collectively make sure the world is a freer, richer and safer place."

Johnson, at present embroiled in a scandal over lockdown events, stated the state of affairs on Ukraine's border was "more and more regarding."

"I proceed to induce Russia to have interaction in negotiations and keep away from a reckless and catastrophic invasion," he stated on Twitter on Sunday.