Moscow calls for common sense in US arms deliveries to Ukraine
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The arms in question comprise Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, which Moscow sees as a national security threat.
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US Multiple Launch Rocket Systems
Moscow hopes that Washington would be guided by common sense when deciding on deliveries of long-range missiles to Ukraine, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said Saturday.
Washington could include advanced long-range rocket weapon systems in a new US military package for Ukraine, CNN reported on Thursday citing multiple US officials.
Ukraine has long been asking the United States to provide Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), the report said.
Simultaneously, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Thursday the US had not made the final decision on the supply of MLRSs to Ukraine.
"We currently proceed from the statement of Pentagon spokesman [John] Kirby, [who said] that the final decision on this issue has not been made. We hope common sense will prevail and Washington will not take such a provocative step," Antonov said replying to a media inquiry as per the Russian Embassy on its Telegram channel.
The diplomat stressed that the US supplying such weapons to Ukraine would allow Kiev to deploy them near the borders with Russia in close proximity enough to jeopardize Russian cities.
Moscow sent a formal diplomatic note to the United States warning that Washington and Brussels' arms shipments were adding fuel to the fire of the war in Ukraine, stressing that this matter could bring upon "unpredictable consequences".
He noted that Moscow had previously repeatedly warned Washington via diplomatic channels that pouring more weaponry into Ukraine significantly increases the risks of escalation.
He also stressed that Moscow would not tolerate this situation and would take the necessary steps to "eliminate the capabilities" of Ukrainian forces.
Furthermore, Antonov called on Washington and Kiev to "come to terms with the reality" and move toward a political resolution of the crisis.
Since the start of the war, the United States has deployed more than 100,000 of its troops to NATO member states, and the European Union also chipped in, sending $500 million worth of arms and equipment to Kiev. The shipments are still going to Ukraine despite the repeated Russian warning that such influx to the conflict zone in Ukraine was adding fuel to the fire.
Bloomberg had warned in late April that US arms stocks would run out within a few months if the White House continues to send military aid to Ukraine. The military equipment packages include artillery systems and munitions, in addition to armored personnel carriers.
