Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Picture: Taken from the official website of the Russian Presidential Palace (file photo)
Russia ignores the continued aggression once morest Ukraine by many countries, and the international community strengthens sanctions. US President Joe Biden also announced on the 1st a new $700 million (regarding NT$20.3 billion) military aid plan for Ukraine, including range About 80 kilometers “Himas Multiple Rocket System” (HIMARS). Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov slammed the U.S. for “deliberately adding fuel to the fire” and warned that the move would increase the risk of direct conflict between Washington and Moscow.
According to a Archyde.com report, Biden issued a statement on the 1st stating: “The United States will stand with its Ukrainian partners and continue to provide Ukraine with weapons and equipment to allow the country to defend itself.” In this regard, Peskov said: “We believe that the United States deliberately, Camp Jiji is adding fuel to the fire.” He stressed that “such a supply” will not prompt the resumption of peace talks in Kyiv, and Washington wants “Russia and Ukraine to fight to the point where only one soldier is left”.
Biden also unveiled plans to provide Ukraine with the “Himas Multiple Rocket System,” which the Ukrainian government had previously assured him would not use once morest targets in Russia. Peskov said that Moscow does not believe in such assurances, is assessing the risk of rocket attacks on Russian territory, and will take appropriate measures. Moscow called Washington’s move “extremely negative”.
U.S. Defense Department officials revealed that the U.S. will initially provide Ukraine with four “Hymasters multiple launch rocket systems”, and it will take regarding three weeks to train Ukrainian troops to use these new systems. At present, both Ukraine and Russia have operated multiple rocket systems on the battlefield, but the “Hipmaster Multiple Rocket System” has better range and accuracy. Asked how Moscow would respond if Ukraine used U.S.-supplied rockets to hit Russian territory, Peskov told the media: “Let’s not discuss the worst.”
