U.S. supplies of lethal arms to Ukraine would threaten Russia's security - Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW. Feb 5 (Interfax) - Washington's intention to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons causes Moscow's serious concerns, as this might not only further worsen the conflict in the southeastern part of the country but also threaten Russia's security, says Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
"In our contacts with U.S. administration officials, we have repeatedly pointed to reports on Washington's intention to start handing modern lethal weapons to Kyiv directly or through mediators, which is backed by an act passed by the Congress and signed by the president at the end of last year," Lukashevich said at a news briefing on Thursday.
"This act allows for and encourages such shipments, and this causes our serious concerns. Taking into account the Kyiv war party's revanchist plans, not only is this fraught with the escalation of the situation in the southeast, but this also threatens security of the Russian Federation, whose territory has been repeatedly shelled from the Ukrainian side," he said.
If these intentions are put into practice, this could seriously complicate relations between Moscow and Washington, he said.
"Undoubtedly, this decision, if it is fulfilled, may deal colossal damage to Russian-American relations if Donbas residents are killed with American weapons. We warn the administration against the plans to ship weapons and military hardware to Ukraine," Lukashevich said.
