UK Foreign Sec on Russia's threats ahead of G7 talks

U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has taken a firm stance with regard to the troop buildup on the Ukraine-Russia border, stating "what we have to do is deter Russia from taking that course of action." Speaking to reporters on Friday, Truss expressed the U.K.'s support for Ukraine and said the G-7 summit in Liverpool Saturday would involve discussions on having a united and tough approach to Russia.

"The G-7 meeting (...) is about a show of unity between like-minded major economies that we are going to absolutely be strong in our stance against aggression," she said.

Truss is hosting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other G-7 counterparts for weekend talks in the northwest England port city. The U.K. is seeking elusive consensus from the wealthy nations’ club in response to tensions with China and Iran, and what it says is “malign behavior” by Russia towards Ukraine. Truss advised that she has been in communication with her Ukrainian counterpart and is looking to help Ukraine move away from it's reliance on Russia for energy supplies.

"We absolutely need to reduce dependence on Russian gas and energy, and this should be part of an overall strategy of reducing dependence on non-market economies, reducing dependence on malign actors and making sure that the free world is able to have that strategic independence it needs to survive and thrive," she said. The U.S. and its NATO allies are concerned the movement of Russian troops and weapons to the border region may be a prelude to invasion and have said they would inflict heavy sanctions on Russia’s economy if that happens. Moscow denies planning to attack Ukraine and accuses Kyiv of its own allegedly aggressive designs.