The assertion by US protection chief Lloyd Austin exhibits who the actual aggressor is, the International Ministry spokeswoman mentioned
A declare by US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin that NATO and Russia might find yourself in a direct confrontation if Kiev loses its battle with Moscow is “mad,” Russian International Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has mentioned.
Throughout a US Home Armed Companies Committee listening to on Thursday, Austin steered that Russian President Vladimir Putin “gained’t cease” if his forces prevail in opposition to Ukraine. Russia’s neighbors within the Baltic area “perceive Putin and his capabilities. And albeit, if Ukraine falls, I genuinely consider NATO will likely be combating Russia,” the Pentagon chief mentioned.
In a put up on Telegram later within the day, Zakharova mentioned she puzzled whether or not Austin’s remarks had been “a direct menace to Russia or an try to give you an excuse for [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky?”
“In each instances, it’s mad,” she insisted. “However now everybody sees who the aggressor is – it’s Washington.”
The Pentagon chief’s assertion got here as Republican lawmakers proceed to withstand makes an attempt by the administration of US President Joe Biden to push via one other $60 billion in army assist for Ukraine. A number of lawmakers are demanding that help to Kiev be paired with measures to safe the border with Mexico.
US Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, who visited Kiev final week, mentioned Ukraine is at the moment “shedding the warfare” to Russia. In accordance with Schumer, Zelensky and different Ukrainian officers made it clear to him that “in the event that they don’t get the help, they are going to certainly lose the warfare.”
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron hinted that NATO forces could possibly be despatched to Ukraine if the scenario for Kiev continues to deteriorate. There’s “no consensus” among the many US-led bloc’s members about deploying troops in Ukraine, however “by way of dynamics, we can’t exclude something. We’ll do every thing vital to forestall Russia from profitable this warfare,” he pledged.
Within the days since then, the US, Britain, Spain, Italy, Germany and different NATO members have distanced themselves from Macron’s remarks, stressing that there are not any plans to make use of the bloc’s forces in Ukraine.
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In his deal with to the Federal Meeting on Thursday, Putin once more rejected hypothesis by the US and its allies that Russia may goal NATO states. “The West provoked the battle in Ukraine… and so they proceed to lie. Now, with none disgrace, they are saying that Russia supposedly intends to assault Europe. We right here perceive that it’s nonsense,” he harassed.
