Moscow: US "directly" involved in Ukraine conflict
The head of Russia's Duma says Washington is now directly participating in Ukraine.
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Washington is essentially coordinating and developing military operations in Ukraine
Chairman of Russia's State Duma Vyecheslav Volodin said on Saturday that the US should be added to a "list of war criminals" since it is now directly participating in the Ukraine conflict.
Many reports and leaks have surfaced regarding Washington sharing data with Ukraine, with NBC reporting on Friday that US President Joe Biden told intelligence officials that these "counterproductive" leaks should stop.
The New York Times (NYT), citing senior US officials, claimed that Washington provided Kiev with intelligence that led to the death of high-ranking Russian officers, and that the US and other NATO allies are secretly providing real-time battlefield intelligence to Ukraine.
Last Tuesday, General Mark Milley, the chairperson of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Senate panel that “There’s a significant amount of intelligence flowing to Ukraine from the United States."
Moreover, reports have also surfaced saying that the US assisted Ukrainian forces in locating and targeting the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, the Moskva.
Though US authorities have still not given any official reaction to the reports, Volodin commented on them on Telegram, saying “The United States is taking part in hostilities in Ukraine. US President Biden, demanding to stop leaks about the exchange of intelligence information with Ukraine, admitted that Washington had been exposed.”
He further wrote that Washington is essentially coordinating and developing military operations in Ukraine, and is therefore directly participating in "hostilities" against Russian forces.
“For the crimes committed in Ukraine by the Kiev Nazi regime, the US leadership should also be held accountable, adding to the list of war criminals,” Volodin said.
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby earlier denied these reports, saying the US does not provide intelligence on the location of senior military leaders on the battlefield, or helps the Ukrainian military in making targeting decisions.
