Zakharova mocks EU's Kallas over Trump's Ukraine arms plan
2 Min Read
Maria Zakharova ridicules Kaja Kallas for realizing the cost of US arms aid to Ukraine, calling the policy absurd and exploitative.
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova gestures during Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (AP)
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on Wednesday that EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had eventually grasped the underlying motives behind US President Donald Trump's proposal, which suggests that countries providing military aid to Ukraine should bear the costs of American weapons supplied to Kiev.
"It seems that Kaja [Kallas] starts to understand what is going on. Let us help her. It's like when someone told you to pay for the food which someone else eats and then dies, isn't it?" The Russian foreign minister said on her Telegram channel.
On Tuesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated that Moscow perceives NATO’s ongoing military assistance to Ukraine in a negative light, interpreting it as a clear signal that Western allies lack a genuine commitment to pursuing peaceful resolutions.
Russia has consistently warned that Western weapon deliveries to Ukraine escalate the conflict rather than contribute to its resolution, effectively drawing NATO states deeper into the crisis, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explicitly stating that any arms shipments destined for Ukrainian forces would be considered valid military targets by Russian troops.
Trump sends more weapons to Ukraine
US President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday that Patriot missile systems were being delivered to Ukraine, with Germany providing the initial shipments and intending to replenish its own inventory following the transfer.
On Monday, Trump, alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, unveiled a plan to supply Ukraine with further military assistance, such as Patriot air defense missiles, by having European allies acquire billions of dollars’ worth of US-made arms, including Patriot missiles, for delivery to Kiev.
Trump emphasized that the US would produce these weapons while requiring European countries to fully finance the expenses, ensuring no direct cost to American taxpayers and maintaining alignment with his "America First" doctrine.
On July 14, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States would be sending Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine, noting that the European Union would bear the financial responsibility for this delivery. This follows his announcement the previous week about Washington's plans to provide additional weapons to Kiev as the conflict in Ukraine continues.
