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Russia, which seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and backs
separatists in the east of the country, has amassed some 100,000
troops near the Ukrainian border and is demanding security
guarantees including a promise NATO will never admit Kyiv.
"We have prepared a robust and comprehensive package of
financial and economic sanctions," von der Leyen told the
papers, adding that these included "capping access to foreign
capital" and "export controls, especially on technical goods".
The controversial Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline was also
part of the sanctions package. Whether the pipeline can go into
operation depends "on Russia's behaviour", von der Leyen said.
"People close to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and
oligarchs could of course be hit sensitively," she added.
Russia has formulated several options as an excuse to invade
Ukraine, including the potential use of a propaganda video
showing a staged attack, the United States said on Thursday, as
the Kremlin condemned American troop deployments in the region.
The Kremlin accused Washington on Thursday of ignoring its calls
to ease the standoff, a day after the United States announced it
would send nearly 3,000 extra troops to Poland and Romania.
(Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Michael Perry)
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