Russia: West using Ukraine as a tool for advancing regional interests
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Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson says that “Ukraine is perceived by the West as an instrument of influence, of carrying out its interests in the region, destabilizing the situation, endlessly accusing Russia.”
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Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Maria Zakharova
Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized western countries' approach to Kyiv, turning it into a tool to "progress their own interests in the region and influence certain activities”.
Zakharova said that “Ukraine is perceived by the West as an instrument of influence, of carrying out its interests in the region, destabilizing the situation, endlessly accusing Russia.”
Furthermore, she also stated that Western countries require constant justifications for anti-Russian sanctions, and they are using Ukraine to do so, despite the fact that there is no proof of Russian "aggression" intentions, suspecting that Ukraine was being used as a platform for conducting experiments.
Moscow has been waiting for a response from the Joe Biden administration on its security assurances suggestions, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson. She went on to explain that Moscow had issued formal written proposals to all of its Western partners, beginning with the US.
On Sunday, Zakharova stated that Moscow expects military and informational provocations from the US and Ukraine on the eve of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, which is scheduled to run from the 4th of February to the 20th.
US sends second shipment of armament to Ukraine
Ukraine's Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, has also announced on Sunday that the country had received a second shipment of weaponry from the US as part of a $200 million defensive aid package.
"The second bird in Kyiv! More than 80 tons of weapons to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities from our friends in the USA! And this is not the end," Reznikov tweeted.
The second bird in Kyiv! More than 80 tons of weapons to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities from our friends in the USA! And this is not the end 😌 🇺🇦🤝🇺🇸
— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) January 23, 2022
P.S. the cargo arrived under dependable protection 🐶@WhiteHouse @congressdotgov @USEmbassyKyiv @UKRintheUSA pic.twitter.com/ReNaj9tRds
According to the US Embassy in Kyiv on Friday, the US delivered 90,7 tonnes of arms to Ukraine in a new "military assistance initiative" overseen by US President Joe Biden.
The Embassy has also tweeted that “the first shipment of security assistance from the US had arrived in Ukraine on Friday. That shipment included "close to 200,000 pounds of lethal aid, including ammunition for the front-line defenders of Ukraine."
The first shipment of assistance recently directed by President Biden to Ukraine arrived in Ukraine tonight. This shipment includes close to
— U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) January 22, 2022
200,000 pounds of lethal aid, including ammunition for the front line defenders of Ukraine. [1/2] pic.twitter.com/YeYanK0Px6
The US Department of State announced earlier that it will continue to provide military support to Ukraine, with fresh supplies anticipated to arrive in the coming weeks. On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that his country calls on the United States to stop arms supplies to Ukraine, stressing that this is a direct threat to Russia.
Last week, the UK said that it has delivered anti-tank weapons to Ukraine to aid in self-defense in the event of an "invasion". Ukraine has also received military aid from the United States, including arms and training.
The US has repeatedly accused Russia of continuing to intensify its army buildup along Ukraine's border and issued new warnings against any "aggression" by Moscow, which Russia repeatedly denied while maintaining its right to defend its security.
