Friday 17 February 2023

Nuland's Words on Crimea Confirm US Involvement in Ukraine Conflict, Moscow Says

Nuland's Words on Crimea Confirm US Involvement in Ukraine Conflict, Moscow Says

Nuland's Words on Crimea Confirm US Involvement in Ukraine Conflict, Moscow Says




©Sputnik / Vitaliy Belousov / Go to the mediabank






The statement of US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland about the strikes on Crime once again confirm the involvement of the United States in the conflict in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.







Earlier in the day, Nuland said that Ukraine will not be considered safe by the collective West unless Crimea is at a minimum demilitarized and that the US supports Kiev targeting massive Russian military installations in Crimea as it considers them to be legitimate targets.


"She (Nuland) allowed herself a whole series of mind-blowing and absurd statements... Once again, we see the involvement of the United States in the conflict in Ukraine — supplying with weapons in huge quantities, providing intelligence, and blatantly participating in combat operations planning," Zakharova told a briefing.


The US has a lot of internal problems to address apart from Ukraine, the spokeswoman added.


Earlier Thursday, Nuland called Russia's military installations in Crimea "legitimate targets" for Ukraine and added that Washington supports Kiev targeting the Russian military hubs in the peninsula, saying that "Ukraine is not going to be safe unless Crimea is at a minimum demilitarized."


The Unites States considers it important to provide Kiev with the military "of the future," which would be able to deter Russia after its special military operation in Ukraine is finished, Nuland added.


"Even if there is a just peace, there has to be a long-term plan and a building of the Ukrainian military of the future, so that they can be deterring of any future appetite [Russian President Vladimir] Putin might have," Nuland said at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank.


The official also said that Washington should help Kiev by building "a long-term integrated air defense, a long-term high-end border security force" and an ability to patrol the national maritime borders.


She said that the conflict might end because of either Kiev or Moscow's exhaustion or a diplomatic settlement, adding that the US wanted to see Putin's strategic defeat.







"I would like to give Victoria Nuland a piece of advice — take care of white balloons and UFOs that are flying above the a territory of the US. As we can see, you are not very successful in dealing with these unidentified objects quickly and efficiently. Your people are being mocked at, while you are dreaming of Russia's defeat and now even urging Kiev to attack Crimea. You have things to do back home," Zakharova said.



US authorities silent about major man-made disaster in Ohio, Russian diplomat says



The US authorities are silent about a major man-made disaster involving the derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Friday.


"On February 3, 50 cars of a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed near East Palestine, Ohio. What is happening in this state appears to be the largest man-made disaster in recent times in terms of threats to the environment, human life and health. Notably, its details are only beginning to emerge," the diplomat noted, adding that reporters had been initially denied access to the derailment site.


Zakharova recommended that US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States Victoria Nuland take personal control of the situation.


"Victoria, we know you for a person who was in charge of the information at the Department of State, but in general, you are a public figure. Could you take personal control of the situation around the derailment of 50 cars carrying toxic chemicals, which took place in your own country? Tell us what is happening there and bring some democracy to life in the United States. Your people miss it," Zakharova said.


Nuland made the remarks during a virtual discussion with the Carnegie Endowment, and added that she would give Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the Nobel Prize if he used his influence to help put an end to ongoing special military operation.


“If Bibi Netanyahu can get Putin out of Ukraine, I'm going to give him the Nobel Prize,” Nuland said in response to comments made by the Israeli official about providing additional military aid to Ukrainian forces.







Soon after the interview, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov confirmed that Israel vowed to provide Kiev with alert technology for such aerial threats as missiles and drones.


Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in mid-October that Israel could no longer supply military hardware to Ukraine due to "operational reasons." At the same time, he promised that Israel would help Ukrainians develop an air raid warning system and would provide relief aid. Western countries have increased their military support for Ukraine after Russia launched a military operation there on February 24, 2022. In April, Moscow sent a note to NATO member states condemning their military assistance to Kiev.


The Kremlin has repeatedly emphasized that President Putin has always been and continues to remain open to negotiations on Ukraine, as is evident from his attempts to initiate dialogue with the US, NATO and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe even before the start of hostilities. Moscow has said it agrees with US statements that the resolution of the Ukraine crisis must be based on a fair and long-term peace, but at the same time, it sees no prospects for negotiations yet.



NATO involvement in Ukrainian conflict is maximal, says Russian diplomat



The involvement of NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine is maximal, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Friday.


"NATO countries are playing innocent, trying to prove that they are not a party to the conflict (in Ukraine).... The involvement [of NATO countries] is maximal, (they’ve been carrying out) provocative activity for many years. Now they directly control the leadership of the Kiev regime, they are all connected."


According to Zakharova, Moscow also drew attention to media reports that Ukraine might organize joint licensed production of shells and other weapons with the UK and create similar military enterprises with other NATO countries. "It is obvious that big Western capital is behind the pumping of the Ukrainian armed forces, the formation of combat operations," the diplomat noted.


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