MOSCOW: Moscow warned on Saturday that Washington was
encouraging “new bloodshed” in eastern Ukraine by its decision to
provide the ex-Soviet nation with lethal weapons, while Kiev expressed
the hope arms supplies could help contain Russia.
The
stern Moscow warning came after a new ceasefire deal between Ukraine and
pro-Russian rebels went into effect from midnight Saturday ahead of the
New Year and Orthodox Christmas holidays. But already both sides are
claiming ceasefire violations.
In a strongly-worded
statement Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov accused the
United States of “crossing the line” and fomenting the conflict in
eastern Ukraine, a region known locally as Donbass.
“Kiev
revanchists are shooting at Donbass every day, they don’t want to
conduct peace negotiations and dream of doing away with the disobedient
population. And the United States has decided to give them weapons to do
that,” Ryabkov said.
“Today, the United States clearly
pushes (Ukrainian authorities) towards new bloodshed,” he said, adding:
“American weapons can lead to new victims” in the neighbouring country.
The
US State Department announced on Friday that Washington had “decided to
provide Ukraine enhanced defensive capabilities as part of our effort
to help Ukraine build its long-term defence capacity.”
An
ABC news report before the announcement said the US planned to supply
Ukraine with anti-tank missiles, including possibly the advanced Javelin
system. “The total defence package of $47 million includes the sale of
210 anti-tank missiles and 35 launchers,” the report added.
‘Right to buy weapons’
Ukraine welcomed Washington’s “long-awaited” decision, saying it would help contain “the aggressor.”
“The
American weapons in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers are not for
offensive purposes, but to respond in a resolute way to the
aggressor.... and for effective self-defence,” said Ukrainian President
Petro Poroshenko on Facebook.
“Finally!” Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Valeriy Chaly wrote on Facebook.
“Our
strategic partners — the United States — have definitively made up
their mind: as a sovereign state, Ukraine has a legitimate right to buy
and receive defensive weapons including lethal weapons,” he said.
“Weakness provokes the aggressor. Strength contains him,” he added.
