Russia verifying reports on Israeli plans to aid Ukraine

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Russia is currently verifying reports about the Israeli occupation planning to supply thousands of helmets and vests to Ukraine, the Russian ambassador to "Israel", Anatoly Viktorov, said Thursday as the West is rallying against Moscow and sending arms and aid to Kiev.

The Russian diplomat stressed that his country would introduce retaliatory measures against "Tel Aviv" if these reports were confirmed.

"Until yesterday, there was no information concerning the supply or expected delivery of any Israeli weapons to the combat zone. As far as I am concerned, repeated appeals to the Israeli authorities to supply such types of products as bulletproof vests and helmets took place," Viktorov underlined.

"Israel," he said, still refused to do this, though "there was information about some dynamics in 'Israel' changing its stance on the issue of helmets and vests supply," highlighting that Moscow was not certain of the matter yet, and would reflect more thoroughly on the issue in order to verify it and take retaliatory measures.

The ambassador also told Rossiya 24 broadcaster "Israel" had a firm stance on the matter of introducing sanctions against Russia despite tremendous pressure imposed by the United States and other Western countries."

Ukraine has been garnering arms and equipment from all around the world, with its most notable suppliers being the United States, the United Kingdom, and other NATO countries.

Today, German media said Berlin was pondering giving armored vehicles to Slovenia in return for a shipment of Soviet-made T-72 tanks to Ukraine in light of mounting pressures on Germany to pump more arms to Kiev.

US President Joe Biden announced last week his country was giving another $800 million in military assistance to Ukraine in a package that includes "new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine."

This came after the Russian ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, warned that the influx of Western arms to the conflict zone in Ukraine was adding fuel to the fire.

Since the start of the war, the United States has deployed more than 100,000 of its troops to NATO member states, with the Biden administration authorizing $1.7 billion in military aid. Since Biden took office, however, Washington has given Ukraine $2.4 billion in military assistance, the White House said.

The European Union, on the other hand, has agreed to send $500 million worth of arms and equipment to Kiev, and Ukraine nonetheless still urged the West to boost its military capabilities. 

The United Kingdom, before the US, was the latest Western country that announced sending more arms to Ukraine, namely Starstreak missiles, in a package worth some £150 million ($195 million). 

This added to the package of billions of dollars of arms and military equipment sent to Kiev since the war began, not to mention the military training provided to Ukrainian soldiers.