Moscow says US financed Ukraine's plot to assassinate Putin
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The spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry alleged that the United States financed Ukraine's plot to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova attends Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's annual news conference in Moscow, on January 18, 2023. (AP)
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed on Sunday that Ukraine's plot to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin was financed by the United States.
This statement followed remarks by Ukrainian defense intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov on Saturday, confirming that Ukraine's secret services had attempted, but failed, to assassinate Putin.
On Telegram, Zakharova said “Yesterday one of the leaders of the Kiev regime, Budanov, admitted that Ukraine’s intelligence was plotting the assassination of the Russian president. This assassination attempt was being prepared, again, with US money, without which there would be no malicious activities of the Ukrainian intelligence, the Ukrainian armed forces, and, general, Bankova Street [government in Kiev]."
The spokesperson suggested that Washington should use the money it provides to Kiev for more constructive purposes, like funding “the police and other agencies which were established to administer law within the US.”
Russia refuted assassination plot against Rheinmetall CEO
Western countries have increased their military and financial aid to Kiev since the NATO-orchestrated war in Ukraine began in February 2022.
The Kremlin has warned that continued arms deliveries to Kiev will lead to further escalation of the conflict. Russian officials have also stated that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will be considered a legitimate target for Russian strikes.
Earlier on Friday, the Kremlin refuted reports that Russia was trying to assassinate the CEO of a major German arms manufacturer, Rheinmetall, that supplies weapons to Ukraine.
CNN said on Thursday, citing five anonymous US and Western sources, that the US divulged to Germany that the Russian government planned to murder Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.
Rheinmetall stated in February that it had reached a deal with a Ukrainian business to produce artillery ammunition and announced its intention to establish at least four plants in Ukraine to produce shells, military vehicles, gunpowder, and anti-aircraft weaponry.
