Ukraine invasion sanctions threat -------------------------------------- The U.S. and European allies are weighing sanctions targeting Russia’s biggest banks, financial markets and energy sector, should President Vladimir Putin invade Ukraine -------------------------------------- U.S. President Joe Biden has backing of leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Britain -------------------------------------- GERMANY Kiev UKRAINE RUSSIA Moscow Black Sea 400km 250 miles Nord Stream 2 2014: Russia annexes Crimea -------------------------------------- Sanctions being considered -------------------------------------- U.S. intelligence warns that Putin has amassed as many as 94,000 troops on Ukraine’s border -------------------------------------- Banks: Sanctions on financial giants VTB Bank, Gazprombank and Russian Direct Investment Fund -------------------------------------- Bond market: Restrict ability of investors to buy Russian bonds traded in secondary market -------------------------------------- Interest rates: Block foreign buyers of $185 billion rouble-denominated sovereign debt market. This will push up borrowing costs, weaken rouble, slow growth and increase inflation -------------------------------------- Swift: Most drastic option is to block Russia’s access to Swift payments system used by banks, and wreak havoc on ordinary Russian citizens -------------------------------------- Oligarchs: Target Putin-friendly oligarchs and family members, block ability to travel and access to U.S. banks -------------------------------------- Energy: Block certification of completed, but not yet operational, Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline -------------------------------------- Sources: Bloomberg, Financial Times, Reuters Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS