Medvedev calls for elimination of Zelensky, Antonov slams US statement

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 May 2023 09:51

Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov slams the US for what he described as "cynical and absurd" statements following an attempt at Putin's life.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev (TASS)

Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov vowed to respond to what he described as "Ukraine’s act of terrorism" in the form of an attempted drone attack on the Kremlin at a time suitable for Russia.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he stated that the US officials' statements on an attempt at Putin's life "are striking in their cynicism and absurdity."

"The U.S. did not find it possible to recognize the obvious thing - it was a terrorist action planned by the Zelensky regime and an assassination attempt targeting the President of the Russian Federation. Moreover, the timing was not chosen by chance - ahead of Victory Day and the May 9 Parade, where foreign guests are planned to take part in," Antonov added.

"How would Americans react if a drone hit the White House, the Capitol, or the Pentagon? The answer is obvious for any politician as well as for an average citizen: the punishment will be harsh and inevitable," he said.

"The theses that this act of terrorism was allegedly a "false flag operation" are blasphemous and deceitful. That is, it was Russia itself that staged a provocation against the heart of our statehood?!"

This comes after US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, said when asked about the suspected Ukranian drone attack against the Kremlin that he was aware of the reports without ascertaining their legitimacy, noting that he would take any piece of information from Moscow with a "very large shaker of salt."

"I’ve seen the reports. I can’t in any way validate them. I'd take anything coming out of the Kremlin with a very large shaker of salt," Blinken said during an interview for The Washington Post.

The top Russian diplomat further accused the United States of shielding the "Kiev criminals".

"The statements of high-ranking officials that Kiev can choose how to defend itself are the textbook example of double standards, a policy of encouraging the Zelensky regime to attack the Russian Federation. The words of the bureaucrats about allegedly deterring the Kiev Nazi regime from hitting targets outside its borders are a false farce," he said.

Antonov acknowledged that Ukraine has no desire to seek peace, warning that the attempt at Putin's life will be put into account "while working out our strategy to implement the goals and objectives of the special military operation."

On his part, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, called for the elimination of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky "and his clique" following the attempt at Putin's life.

"After today's terrorist attack, there are no options left other than the physical elimination of Zelensky and his clique," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky "is not even needed for signing an instrument of unconditional surrender; Hitler, as is known, did not sign it either. There will always be some substitute," Medvedev stressed.

This comes just one day after the press service of the Kremlin said that two UAVs attempted to target the Kremlin residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Two unmanned aerial vehicles were aimed at the Kremlin," the statement said.

The Kremlin stated that Putin was left unharmed by the attack and that Russia reserves the right to initiate retaliation against Kiev's attempt to strike at the Kremlin.

"As a result of this terrorist act, the President of the Russian Federation was not injured. The schedule of his work has not changed, it continues as usual," the statement said.

"The Russian side reserves the right to take retaliatory measures where and when it sees fit," it added.

The Kremlin further stated that it considered the attempted drone attack on the presidential palace as a planned terrorist act and an attempted assassination against Putin.

"We regard these actions as a planned terrorist act and an attempt on the life of the Russian president, carried out on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9 Parade, at which the presence of foreign guests is also planned," the statement read.