Russia Accuses US of “Adding Fuel to Fire” in Ukraine

Russia criticised the US decision to send multiple rocket systems to Kyiv. It also accuses Washington of wanting to “fight Russia to the last Ukrainian”.

Highlights

•   US decides to sell advanced rocket systems to Kyiv, draws Russian rebuke

•Ukraine assures that the weapons won’t be used on Russian soil and would defend Ukraine

• the US unveiled a new package of weapons cache with M142 HIMARS for Kyiv yesterday

Russians have nearly taken Severodonetsk.  Ukrainian defenders control merely 20 per cent of the city.

Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Pskov criticized American plans to send rockets to Kyiv on Wednesday  He accused Washington of “ adding fuel to fire” in Ukraine. Russian protests come after President Joe Biden agreed to send rocket systems to Ukraine. Biden, however, has downplayed fears of direct conflict between NATO and Russia. the US wants Ukraine to defend itself without striking beyond its borders. Needless to say, Moscow is alarmed at this decision

“We believe Russia is adding fuel to the fire deliberately and on purpose,” Pskov said. “Such supplies” do not encourage Ukraine to negotiate peacefully. The US wants to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian”, he concluded.

Will not Attack Russia: Zelensky

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out any attack on Russian soil on Tuesday. “Look, we are not planning to attack Russia, we’re not interested in the Russian Federation, we’re not fighting on their territory,” he said. Nevertheless, the Russians seem more triggered by the move than ever.

The US government unveiled a $700 million package yesterday. It includes air surveillance radars, more javelin short-range anti-tank rockets, artillery ammunition, helicopters, vehicles and spare parts. The centrepiece of the whole package is the M142 HIMARS ( high mobility artillery rocket systems). According to Reuters, these can hit targets as far as 80 km. These won’t include a long-range version capable of striking targets at 300km. The Russians have so far used their latest technology in Ukraine, these weapons can provide some parity.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has condemned these weapons transfers. He said Russia assess the new package of weapons cache negatively. “We regard this as a purely negative one because attempts to present the decision as self-restraint are useless”.  US  engagement targeted pumping of weapons into Kyiv is an obvious thing, he said. He warned US’s present move was potentially dangerous.

Russians Making Slow Gains in Donbas.

So far, a western official has provided some insights into the Russian Donbas offensive to the BBC. Russia is making “slow but steady gains” in the Donbas region, he said. In some areas, its armies are moving at a snail’s pace of 500 metres to a kilometre. In other areas, Ukrainians were on the offensive and made gains in lightly held Russian areas. The biggest threat to Russia lies on its flanks, he conceded.

So far the Russians have lost 15,000 troops in action. 40,000 Russian troops also lie wounded. Such higher figures are due to the lack of adequate medical support in the field, he said. On the other hand, the Ukrainians have taken around 60-100 casualties a day. Russia continues to have morale problems among its troops. The official says, “ We’re seeing sort of disillusionment with the nature of the campaign, not just among junior soldiers, but we’re seeing reflections among senior officers, that they’re disillusioned with the campaign as well”.

In Severodonetsk now, Ukrainian defenders hold around 20 per cent of the city. They are putting a strong defence in areas still under their control, a Ukrainian official says. On the other hand, the Russians are more than determined to take the city. If they’re able to capture Severodonetsk, they may eventually control all of the Luhansk regions.

(Inputs, BBC, Moscow Times, Hindustan Times)

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