Peskov: US agent provocateur, considers Crimea 'legitimate target'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Feb 15:39
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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says Russia considers US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland to be a war hawk and her statements a proof of the US' role in escalated tensions in Eurasia.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia (AP)

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday, in response to a recent statement by the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, which considered Crimea a 'legitimate target' for Ukraine.

According to Peskov, Nuland "belongs to a very broad camp of the most aggressive 'hawks' in American politics," adding that "this is a point of view that we know well."

Furthermore, the spokesperson highlighted that such statements prove, once again, "the depth of our disagreement [US and Russia]," adding that they further demonstrate "the role of the United States as the main instigator of the international tensions that we have."

Nuland on Crimean demilitarization

It is worth noting that during a speech with the Carnegie Endowment think tank, Nuland said that "Ukraine is not going to be safe unless Crimea is at a minimum demilitarized."

The Under Secretary further added that the US only recognized "Crimea as Ukraine" and that thus, Crimea is a "legitimate" target that Ukraine is hitting and the US is "supporting" that.

Crimea became part of Russia following a referendum held in March 2014, in which nearly 96% of Crimeans voted for accession to Russia.

While Ukraine still considers the peninsula to be its own territory, Russia has repeatedly stressed that the decision made by the Crimean people was in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter.

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?