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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned the United States about Washington’s plans to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. Photo/REUTERS
Washington is likely to agree to a deal this week to send an advanced Patriot missile system to Kiev after months of pleas from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kiev wants Washington to supply it with more powerful weapons to shoot down Moscow’s missiles.
Russia has been bombarding Ukraine for months with attacks on its energy infrastructure, causing power outages across the country.
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During a press conference on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, citing experts, warned that Washington’s possible delivery of Patriot missile systems to Kiev could escalate the conflict.
“On December 13, the intention of the United States to supply Ukraine with Patriot missile defense batteries was announced. Previously, many experts, including [yang berbasis] abroad questioned the logic of such a move, which would lead to an escalation of the conflict and increase the risk of direct involvement of US troops in hostilities,” he said.
“The United States continues to distort the weapons of other NATO countries,” Zakharova said.
“Washington is asking them for a more significant contribution to the militarization of Ukraine [anggota NATO].”
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He noted that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Nov. 30 that the United States, along with its NATO allies, had provided more than $40 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the conflict began on Feb. 24.
