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The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy to make a demarche due to the growing involvement of the United States in the fighting on the side of the Kiev regime. The diplomatic measure was taken almost immediately after Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his annual address to the Russian Federal Assembly, claiming among other things that Russia suspended implementation of START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty).
The protest note transmitted to the Ambassador emphasizes that the pumping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with weapons, as well as the target designation for striking Russian military and civilian infrastructure facilities clearly prove the inconsistency and falsity of the claims of the American side that the United States is not a party to the conflict. It is also indicated that the weapons supplied to Kiev, as well as the service personnel, including American citizens, confirm U.S military involvement, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned.
In this regard, the US Ambassador was informed about the “counterproductivity of the current aggressive course of the United States to deepen confrontation with Russia in all directions”. It was particularly noted that in order to de-escalate the situation, Washington should take steps involving the withdrawal of US-NATO military and military equipment from Ukraine, as well as the cessation of hostile anti-Russian activity.
The Russian side also stressed that the United States should provide explanations about the explosions on the Nord Stream–1 and Nord Stream–2 gas pipelines and not interfere with an objective investigation to identify the perpetrators.
In addition, a number of bilateral issues were discussed during the meeting. The Russian media supposed that the diplomats discussed the START issue.
Speaking to the Federal Assembly, Putin blamed the West and, in particular, the United States, for fomenting the conflict in Ukraine and for its victims. LINK
“The West uses Ukraine both as a battering-ram against Russia and as a testing ground,” the president said.
In his turn, on February 21, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kiev was discussing the supply with the United States of long-range weapons and other weapons that had not previously been sent for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russia has repeatedly called that the supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine was a “red line”. In his speech on February 21, Putin mentioned the issue, warning that “the supply of long-range weapons, the possibility of which was earlier also claimed by the United States and Great Britain, will lead to the fact that the security zone on the territory of the special operation will be pushed further and further.” Thus, military supplies and foreign military personnel involved in their maintenance are legitimate targets for Russian forces, including outside the Ukrainian territory.
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