US claims of non-involvement in Ukraine untenable: Antonov

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The non-involvement claims made by the United States in the Ukraine war are untenable, especially in light of the Biden administration's "bravado" and the top brass regarding their involvement in organizing Ukraine's counteroffensive, according to Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Ambassador to the United States, to Sputnik.

He stated that "the blatant bravado of the US government," including generals, who assert that the Pentagon played a direct role in developing Ukraine's policy has "seriously alarmed" Russia.

"Given this, Washington's statements that the United States stands aside and is not a party to the conflict sound absolutely ridiculous and unfounded," Antonov said.

"Facts, interviews of former and current politicians and generals say the opposite. To date, everything has been done to turn the country into a testing ground for the disposal of obsolete weapons and testing of new NATO military equipment to counter Russian weapons."

The Ambassador continued, citing scenes widely broadcasted by Western TV networks as evidence that the soldiers and officers against Russia in Ukraine spoke English fluently and that many had American and British accents.

In the same context, Antonov warned that if Ukraine acquires longer-range missiles or strikes Russian territory, the United States will be forced into a military conflict with Russia.

"Of particular concern is the fact that for many months Ukraine has been soliciting the supply of ATACAMS operational-tactical missiles, which are designed to strike targets at a distance of up to 300 km [187 miles]. If Kiev obtains such weapons, large Russian cities, as well as industrial and transport infrastructure facilities will fall into the area of possible destruction," Antonov said.

"Such a scenario would mean direct involvement of the United States in a military confrontation with Russia."

Russia believes that 'curators of Kiev' will not agree to peaceful settlement

He told Sputnik on Wednesday that Russia believes the "curators of Kiev" will not accept a peaceful resolution and will instead continue to encourage it to embark on hazardous escapades.

Read next: West bars Kiev from thinking about peace: Kremlin

"American arms manufacturers have always been getting rich in wars. This is happening even now, when millions of shells and a huge amount of weapons made in the US are sent to Ukraine. That is why the peaceful scenario cannot suit Kiev's curators, who are hungry for power and money. They will not stop pushing Ukraine into further suicidal adventures, such as the initially doomed offensives," he said.

Western sanctions doomed to failure as Russian exports growing

On the West's comprehensive sanctions against Russia, Antonov warned that they are doomed to failure since Russia's export revenues are rising while Western populations' conditions are getting worse, Antonov told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"The thoughtless and completely illiterate sanctions policy, the open sanctions-information war of the collective West against our country is doomed to failure. Russia is strengthening its independence. The income from energy exports is constantly growing. The situation of ordinary citizens in Western countries is rapidly deteriorating," he said.

Here are some of the risks that #Germany could encounter if the maintenance period of the #NordStream1 pipeline lasts longer or if it reopens with reduced flows. pic.twitter.com/ylFCa6xMTI

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 12, 2022

On the Nord Stream 2 issues, Antonov said Europe's energy issues can be solved quite easily by simply pressing a button to start the pipeline.

"Solving Europe's energy problems is extremely easy. You just need to press a button and launch Nord Stream 2," he said.

Read next: As Nord Stream 1 shuts indefinitely, concerns over gas prices rise