Sat April 2022:
Russia has lodged a formal complaint with the US over its military aid to Ukraine, warning of “unpredictable consequences” if sophisticated weapon supplies go, according to US media.
According to the Washington Post, Moscow warned the US and NATO against transferring the “most sensitive” weapons to Kyiv for use in the confrontation with Russia in a diplomatic note this week, saying such shipments were “adding fuel” to the situation and may have “unpredictable consequences.”
The warning comes as US President Joe Biden announced a fresh $800 million military aid package for Ukraine, which includes helicopters, howitzers, and armored personnel carriers.
“What the Russians are telling us privately is precisely what we’ve been telling the world publicly — that the massive amount of assistance that we’ve been providing our Ukrainian partners is proving extraordinarily effective,” the Post quoted a senior administration official — who spoke on condition of anonymity about the note — as saying.
The State Department declined to comment on reports of the formal note.
“We won’t confirm any private diplomatic correspondence,” a State Department spokesperson said.
“What we can confirm is that, along with allies and partners, we are providing Ukraine with billions of dollars’ worth of security assistance, which our Ukrainian partners are using to extraordinary effect to defend their country against Russia’s unprovoked aggression and horrific acts of violence.”
The latest aid included some of the heavier weaponry that Washington had previously refused to deliver to Kyiv for fear of escalating the war with nuclear-armed Russia, and it comes after the Ukrainian army had already received previous arms supplies.
Biden told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky of the new weapons aid package over the phone Wednesday, as Russia refocused its efforts eastward, the new frontline of the seven-week-old war.
“As Russia prepares to intensify its attack in the Donbas region, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself,” Biden said.
“This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine.”
UK’s Johnson this week announced a further £100m military aid package for Ukraine.
Johnson said the UK would send high-grade military equipment to Ukraine’s armed forces, including more Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles, a British short-range air defence system.
He also promised 800 anti-tank missiles, as well as other precision-guided munitions and more helmets, night vision and body armour.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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