In an interview on Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren, US Senator Rick Scott said that sending US troops to Ukraine should not be completely excluded.

"You should always keep all your options open … I don't think you should ever take it off the table," Scott said as quoted by The Hill.

Commenting on Scott’s remarks, the Russian ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov told journalists that the "anti-Russian rhetoric in the US has reached the point of absurdity."

"There is an impression that local politicians are not fully aware of their statements," Antonov said.

"The slogans voiced in Washington are becoming more and more irresponsible, provocative, and, most importantly, extremely risky for international security."

Scott's words might be understood as a demand for a direct conflict between the main nuclear powers, according to the ambassador, who encouraged US politicians to return to common sense and seek to restore diplomacy.

"I am ready to meet with any American politician, including members of the upper and lower houses of Congress, to discuss ways to strengthen strategic stability," Antonov said.
 
Last week, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that under no scenario does the US administration intend to send troops to Ukraine.

 Sanctions on Russia amount to a declaration of War: Putin

The wave of sanctions the West has been imposing on Russia as a consequence of its military operation in Ukraine is comparable with a declaration of war, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday.

"These sanctions that are being imposed, they are akin to a declaration of war," Putin said at a meeting with female flight crews of Russian airlines. 

Addressing NATO's aspirations to expand eastward through Ukraine's accession, Putin highlighted that if Kiev was a NATO member, it would be encouraged to invade Crimea, and its alliance allies would have no choice but support it.