russia warns us decision to arm ukraine encourages
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

'new bloodshed'

Russia warns US decision to arm Ukraine encourages

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Russia warns US decision to arm Ukraine encourages

More than 10,000 people have died and almost 24,000 have been injured since the pro-Russian insurgency.
Moscow - Arab Today

Moscow warned Saturday that Washington was encouraging "new bloodshed" in eastern Ukraine by its decision to provide the ex-Soviet nation with lethal weapons, while Kiev expressed the hope arms supplies could help contain Russia.

The stern Moscow warning came after a new ceasefire deal between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels went into effect from midnight Saturday ahead of the New Year and Orthodox Christmas holidays. But already both sides are claiming ceasefire violations.

In a strongly-worded statement Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov accused the United States of "crossing the line" and fomenting the conflict in eastern Ukraine, a region known locally as Donbass.

"Kiev revanchists are shooting at Donbass every day, they don't want to conduct peace negotiations and dream of doing away with the disobedient population. And the United States has decided to give them weapons to do that," Ryabkov said.

"Today, the United States clearly pushes (Ukrainian authorities) towards new bloodshed," he said, adding: "American weapons can lead to new victims" in the neighbouring country.

The US State Department announced Friday that Washington had "decided to provide Ukraine enhanced defensive capabilities as part of our effort to help Ukraine build its long-term defence capacity."

An ABC news report before the announcement said the US planned to supply Ukraine with anti-tank missiles, including possibly the advanced Javelin system, citing four State Department officials.

"The total defence package of $47 million includes the sale of 210 anti-tank missiles and 35 launchers," the report added.

- Need 'peaceful settlement' -

Another Russian deputy foreign minister, Grigory Karasin, said the US move would undermine efforts to reach a political settlement in Ukraine.

"Essentially this decision undermines the work to implement the 2015 Minsk agreements," Karasin told TASS state news agency, referring to a Western-brokered peace deal.

He said Washington chose to support "the party of war" in Kiev.

"This is unacceptable," he added.

He reiterated Russia's position that Ukrainian authorities should negotiate with Kremlin-backed rebels through "honest and direct dialogue."

"There is no other way to solve the internal Ukrainian conflict."

The leaders of France and Germany, two other countries involved in the Minsk talks called Saturday for honouring the ceasefire and working for peace.

"There is no alternative to an exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict," German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement issued by the Elysee, referring to "the recent unacceptable increase of ceasefire violations".

- 'Right to buy weapons' -

For its part Ukraine welcomed Washington's "long-awaited" decision, saying it would help contain "the aggressor."

"The American weapons in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers are not for offensive purposes, but to respond in a resolute way to the aggressor.... and for effective self-defence," said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Facebook.

"Finally!" Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Valeriy Chaly wrote on Facebook.

"Our strategic partners -- the United States -- have definitively made up their mind: as a sovereign state, Ukraine has a legitimate right to buy and receive defensive weapons including lethal weapons," he said.

"Weakness provokes the aggressor. Strength contains him," he added.

Despite a new ceasefire, Ukrainian military spokesman Vasyl Labay accused rebels of shooting at government positions and seeking to thwart the latest truce.

Senior rebel representative Eduard Basurin told local reporters that attacks by government troops had decreased but added that the Kiev army still tried to provoke the rebels into opening return fire.

Since the start of the conflict over three years ago more than 10 such ceasefires have been declared but all of them have been violated.

Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of funnelling troops and arms across the border to fan the flames of the conflict as punishment for Kiev's pivot toward Europe.

More than 10,000 people have died and almost 24,000 have been injured since the pro-Russian insurgency broke out in eastern Ukraine in April 2014.

A UN report said this week that 220,000 children are at imminent risk of being hurt by mines and other explosive weapons in eastern Ukraine, one of the most mine-contaminated places on earth.

Moscow has denied the claims of involvement, saying the conflict is Ukraine's internal affair and Kiev should negotiate directly with separatists.

 

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

russia warns us decision to arm ukraine encourages russia warns us decision to arm ukraine encourages

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

russia warns us decision to arm ukraine encourages russia warns us decision to arm ukraine encourages

 



GMT 20:28 2017 Monday ,13 February

EgyptAir to receive second next-generation Boeing

GMT 05:13 2017 Thursday ,16 February

Central bankers take up arms against protectionism

GMT 12:53 2017 Friday ,13 October

S&P warns of Catalan recession if crisis drags

GMT 13:37 2017 Thursday ,16 March

Smith leads Australia's revival in Ranchi test

GMT 18:39 2017 Tuesday ,11 April

Comedian John Bishop returns to Dubai

GMT 21:08 2017 Tuesday ,31 January

Motorcity honoured as ‘Distributor Champion’

GMT 00:14 2017 Tuesday ,28 February

Mohammad receives Pakistani Chief of Army Staff

GMT 23:37 2017 Tuesday ,15 August

Civilians Killed in Deadly Blast in Afghanistan

GMT 08:27 2011 Tuesday ,07 June

3 women charged with robbing vets\' graves

GMT 20:01 2014 Wednesday ,10 December

27 hard questions you need to ask

GMT 16:44 2017 Monday ,25 December

DFM welcomes listing of AWTAD on "Second Market"

GMT 23:23 2017 Sunday ,24 December

Abdullah bin Zayed meets Canada's Minister of Defence

GMT 18:44 2016 Sunday ,04 September

Israel Strikes Northern Gaza Strip

GMT 18:17 2012 Friday ,18 May

Carmen Suleiman hits the books

GMT 09:32 2017 Wednesday ,20 December

Gayeon Lee appoints Dyelog

GMT 06:39 2014 Monday ,01 September

May 21 - June 20
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday