Maria Zakharova stressed that Russia strongly condemned "the increasingly aggressive and bellicose rhetoric of Western officials, who have not been shy about making loud statements on the Ukrainian conflict lately"
©Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS
French President Emmanuel Macron's statement that the possible delivery of military aircraft to Ukraine will not lead to an escalation is absurd, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Wednesday.
"We’ve paid attention to the words of French President (Emmanuel) Macron, who, responding to a question about the possible supply of aircraft to Ukraine, said: 'Nothing is forbidden in principle, provided that it will be useful, in particular, for the Ukrainian armed forces, will not lead to an escalation of the conflict and strikes on Russian territory, will not weaken the defense capability of France itself.' Forgive me, but it’s some kind of absurdity," Zakharova said, "Sorry, but Paris' readiness to supply Kiev with fighter jets was confirmed by the French Defense Minister (Sebastien Lecornu) who visited Ukraine on January 28."
"Is the French president really sure that supplying the Kiev regime with arms, heavy weapons and aircraft for combat operations will not escalate the situation? I refuse to believe that a grown man can have such logic," the diplomat added.
"Such statements only increase the already irrepressible appetite of [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky’s regime, which, by shelling hospitals and massacring civilians, has clearly demonstrated that Western military injections - how did Mr. Macron put it? - will not lead to an escalation of the conflict. Well, of course, they ‘give’ peace. Obviously these planes are going to be used to drop cookies and candy, right? I have a different feeling."
The diplomat stressed that Russia strongly condemned "the increasingly aggressive and bellicose rhetoric of Western officials, who have not been shy about making loud statements on the Ukrainian conflict lately."
"I understand them. They feel the deadlock of their own position and the lack of arguments to explain to their own citizens what they have done, in particular to the European continent. Hence the tearing and shouting, trying to find some kind of explanation for what they are doing," she added.
Kremlin on US Aid to Kiev: Direct Way for Escalation That Will Not Change Events Course
The latest US aid package is a direct path to escalating tensions, but it will not change the course of events in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.
Earlier in the week, British news agency reported, citing two US officials, that the US was preparing to provide Ukraine with a new $2.2 billion weapons package, including longer-range rockets for the first time.
"Yes, this is a direct path to heating tensions ... we see this, this requires additional efforts from us. But once again, this will not change the course of events, the special military operation will continue," Peskov told reporters.
Last week, Ukraine's allies decided to supply Kiev with more weapons, including battle tanks, armored infantry vehicles and artillery systems. After that, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on NATO countries to unlock the supply of long-range missiles and military aircraft to Kiev.
Since Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, Western countries have been providing Kiev with humanitarian, military and financial aid. Moscow has denounced the flow of weapons to Ukraine from its Western allies, saying it adds fuel to the fire.
Moscow has repeatedly warned the West against further involvement in the conflict, while the European Union, the US and NATO have maintained that they are not party to the hostilities despite training Ukrainian soldiers and sending their instructors to Ukraine.
Russian MoD’s latest statements on the Ukraine crisis:
▪️ Russian artillery has launched strikes at the personnel and hardware of the Ukrainian Armed Force’s 14th and 92nd mechanized brigades in Kharkov region and in the LPR. Up to 30 Ukrainian personnel, two pickups, and one D-20 howitzer have been eliminated.
▪️ Russia’s Army Aviation and artillery have neutralized Ukrainian troop concentrations from the 80th and 95th airborne assault brigades in the LPR and DPR. The enemy has lost up to 95 personnel, 3 armored fighting vehicles, and 1 motor vehicle.
▪️ The offensive operations have resulted in more advantageous lines and positions, as well as the neutralization of the enemy in the DPR.
▪️ Over 100 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three armored fighting vehicles, 1 Msta-B howitzer, 1 fighting vehicle equipped with a Uragan multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS), and one French-manufactured Caesar self-propelled artillery system have been eliminated.
▪️ Russia’s Army Aviation and artillery have neutralized troops and hardware from Ukraine’s 72nd Mechanized Brigade and 35th Marine Brigade, as well as troops from the 108th and 124th territorial defense brigades in the DPR. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost over 60 Ukrainian personnel, a tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, two armored personnel carriers, and three other motor vehicles.
▪️ A Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, 2 D-30 howitzers, and 1 D-20 howitzer have been destroyed.
▪️ One US-manufactured AN/TPQ-37 counterbattery warfare radar has been destroyed in Zaporozhye region.
▪️ Two motor boats and up to 10 personnel from Ukrainian landing forces have been eliminated in Kherson region.
▪️ Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of Russia have neutralized 88 artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 131 areas.
▪️ Air defense units have shot down 9 unmanned aerial vehicles over the past 24 hours; 3 rocket-propelled projectiles launched by US-manufactured HIMARS MLRS, have been intercepted.
▪️ Some 381 airplanes, 206 helicopters, 2,996 unmanned aerial vehicles, 402 air defense missile systems, 7,706 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 998 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 3,978 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 8,243 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.
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