Emanuel Macron to hold talks with Vladimir Putin as he stresses need to de-escalate crisis in Ukraine

ΤThe United States plans to block global exports of raw materials from Russia if it invades Ukraine, the German newspaper Bild reported on Tuesday. Justin Hagler from Berlin.

In a statement claiming that details of the plans had been leaked, the paper said US sanctions would target exports of oil, gas and other raw materials that are a key pillar of the Russian economy.

The United States and its allies will try to block exports on a global basis, which the report says could cost the Russian economy more than $ 50 billion ($ 37 billion).

They will also block Russian arms exports and deport diplomats to obstruct the work of the Russian secret services.

Details appear to have leaked to the newspaper from a recent briefing by CIA Director William Burns to German Chancellor Olaf Soltz.

Mr Burns flew to Berlin to meet with Mr Soltz in person as the United States sought to keep Germany in its plans.

A key element in any sanctions on raw materials will be the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

The United States wants Germany to shut down the pipeline in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine, but Mr Scholz has given mixed messages.

The Bild publication claimed that Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, and her Green Party had fully signed the US plans, but that Mr Scholz and his Social Democrats (SPD) were reluctant.

This raises the prospect of a damaging split within the German coalition government on the issue.