Russia may severe ties with US over terrorism sponsor designation
Russia threatens the United States with the severing of their diplomatic ties if the US were to designate it a state sponsor of terror.
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The United States and Russian flags fluttering
If the United States designates Russia a state supporter of terrorism, Moscow may sever all diplomatic ties with Washington, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned on Tuesday.
"Such use of their own legislation, contrary to international law, may be seen by senators and congressmen as a terrible punishment that can force Russia to live according to the rules-based world order invented by the United States. They are naive," Zakharova underlined.
"At the same time, it is forgotten that any action is met with reaction, and the logical result of such a step may end of diplomatic relations, after which Washington risks finally crossing the point of no return with all the logical consequences," she added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the US to designate Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism" in mid-April, appealing to US President Joe Biden to make the designation. The Ukrainian parliament reiterated the call in early May.
Several US senators proceeded to promptly draft a relevant resolution, but the State Department proved to be reluctant in proceeding with the designation.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in mid-April that officials at his department were looking into the possibility of placing Russia on the list.
The US views "state sponsors of terrorism" as countries that have systemically supported or dealt with acts of international terrorism on their own or on behalf of government agencies.
As of 2022, the US list includes Cuba, Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Syria.
Amid reports on the matter, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier today that if Washington was to designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, bilateral relations between the two countries would be severely affected.
"We assess the consequences of such a step very negatively," Peskov told reporters when asked how Kremlin would react if US congress labels Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.
Three weeks into July, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threatened US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that if his department does not designate Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism", Congress would go ahead and make that designation itself.
Pelosi's warned her fellow Democrat during a phone conversation earlier in the week, the source said.
The Secretary of State is the only US authority with a mandate to designate states as sponsors of terror. However, some members of Congress believe there are no legal barriers to the body passing a relevant law and designating Russia without authorization from the State Department, Politico said.
