Russian parliamentary officials have called the Ukrainian prime minister’s remarks about the possibility of deploying US anti-missile defense systems in the country a continuation of provocations by Kiev officials and warned: “Moscow will certainly respond appropriately to such a move.”
According to the Tass news agency, Leonid Slotsky, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma, said, the recent remarks by Ukrainian Prime Minister Alexei Raznikov and Special Minister for the Reunification of Uncontrolled Territories about the deployment of US anti-aircraft defense systems on Ukrainian soil are provocative, and Russia’s deployment of such equipment will certainly not go unanswered.
The Duma official wrote on his Telegram channel: “The words of the Prime Minister of Ukraine are very provocative in themselves. The deployment of US anti-missile defense systems on Ukrainian soil could change the balance of power not only in the region but beyond.”
“A variety of cruise missiles can be used on the platforms of US anti-missile defense systems,” Slotsky warned: “The appearance of such equipment at a very close distance to the Russian border will undoubtedly provoke a reaction from the Moscow authorities, and thus, the deterioration of the situation in the region will only spread.”
He added: “It is unfortunate that Ukrainian law has deprived its people of the opportunity to live in independence and live in peace, and unfortunately Ukrainian political officials are easily willing to sacrifice these issues for their participation in anti-Russian actions.”
Ukrainian authorities do not intend to give up their provocative actions
In this regard, Senator Konstantin Kasachov, Vice-Chairman of the Council of the Russian Federation (Senate) and a member of the Committee on International Affairs, stated that the Prime Minister of Ukraine has launched a very dangerous provocation by asking the United States to deploy anti-missile defense systems on its territory.
The senior senator told the news agency: “It would have been better if Mr. Raznikov had not entered the adult games with military weapons and was engaged in his duties of reintegrating uncontrolled territories into Ukraine. Â “It was safer for everyone, although his words could not affect anything in particular.”
According to him, the remarks of the Prime Minister of Ukraine show that the Kiev authorities do not intend to give up their provocative actions against Russia. Kasachov stressed: “Raising the issue of the deployment of US anti-missile defense systems on Ukrainian soil is, in fact, a continuation of provocative actions in the Black Sea, which have intensified significantly recently. “The only way to reduce the deterioration of the situation in the region is to refrain from deploying weapons and forces of third countries near the Russian border and on the shores of the Crimean peninsula.”
In response to a question from a Tass reporter, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Groshko declined to comment on Kyiv officials’ request for a US missile shield to be deployed in Ukraine, saying only that “the Foreign Ministry is only interpreting serious and important issues.”
The Prime Minister of Ukraine yesterday (Tuesday) proposed the deployment of US anti-missile defense systems on Ukrainian soil.
Earlier, senior Pentagon officials had stated that the United States will continue its efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and help it complete military reform and modernization of its armed forces and become a sustained partner in the region to counter threats of all dimensions.