Day 52: Russia warns US about ‘unpredictable consequences’ of arming Ukraine

Russia has warned the United States of “unpredictable consequences” if Washington continues to transfer weapons to Ukraine.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that it had reviewed a copy of a diplomatic note that Russia sent the US this week, which warned that US and NATO shipments of the “most sensitive” weapons systems to Ukraine could bring “unpredictable consequences”.

“We call on the United States and its allies to stop the irresponsible militarization of Ukraine, which implies unpredictable consequences for regional and international security,” said the note.

Weapon shipments were “adding fuel” to the conflict, the note added, according to the newspaper.

A Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman confirmed Russia had sent diplomatic notes to the US and other western nations about arming Ukraine.

The report comes days after the Biden administration announced an additional $800m in military assistance to Ukraine.

The military aid package included artillery systems, artillery rounds, armored personnel carriers and helicopters – and brought the total tally of US aid to Ukraine since Russia’s military operation began to more than $2.4bn.

US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Wednesday, “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”.

“The steady supply of weapons the United States and its Allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNN in an interview Friday that the world should be prepared for the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine.

In recent days, Anatoly Antonov, Russia's envoy to Washington, has warned that the current actions of Western nations viz a viz Ukraine could be leading to a direct military confrontation between Russia and the US.

"Western states are directly involved in the current events as they continue to pump Ukraine with weapons and ammunition, thereby inciting further bloodshed," Antonov was quoted as saying by Newsweek magazine.

"Any supply of weapons and military equipment from the West, performed by transport convoys through the territory of Ukraine, is a legitimate military target for our Armed Forces," he added.

MG