Russian Ambassador spoke out about the risk of war with Ukraine 0
(Dan Tri) – The Russian Ambassador to the UK has spoken out about the risk of conflict amid the recent escalation of tensions between Moscow and neighboring Ukraine.
Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin gave an interview to BBC (Photo: Sputnik).
`We do not intend to provoke or threaten any country, including Ukraine,` Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin said in an interview with BBC journalist Andrew Marr on April 18.
The BBC journalist mentioned the `worrying` and `threatening` comments of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Dmitry Kozak, about the situation between Russia and Ukraine last week.
Ambassador Kelin responded that Moscow fully complies with the commitments of the Minsk peace agreement.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine has killed thousands of people, escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
`If the Ukrainian government decides to move troops to Donbass and carry out a bloody conflict there, to kill people, kill Russians, of course we will respond,` Ambassador Kelin warned.
Russia is said to have deployed tens of thousands of soldiers and many weapons to the area bordering Ukraine in recent days as fighting between government troops and separatist forces in eastern Ukraine escalated.
`We moved troops to tell Ukraine that they will pay the price if they decide to advance on this territory and carry out a bloody conflict there,` the Russian Ambassador added.
Mr. Kelin affirmed that Russian military forces on the border with Ukraine were a `normal military exercise`.
According to Ambassador Kelin, in eastern Ukraine, there are 60,000 Ukrainian troops deployed and the increase in military presence continues.
`NATO wants to gather 30,000 troops on the border of Russia and Ukraine, and gather tanks and military vehicles. We need to prepare for that, and the Russian army has prepared for that,` Ambassador Kelin
When asked whether `we are getting close to a war at the border`, the Russian Ambassador answered directly: `No, I don’t think so.`
Relationship with America
Journalist Marr also asked Ambassador Kelin about Moscow’s relationship with Washington after US President Joe Biden’s administration imposed new sanctions on Russia – following the White House boss’s recent controversial statements against Russia.
Russian diplomat denies US accusations that Russian intelligence agencies orchestrated a cyber attack on US software company SolarWinds, damaging US government agencies including the Department of Defense
President Biden last week signed an executive order sanctioning more than 30 Russian individuals and organizations for allegedly interfering in the 2020 US presidential election and being involved in last year’s SolarWinds cyberattack.
In addition to expelling 10 Russian diplomats, the US also put a number of Russian companies on the `black list` and banned US banks from buying bonds from the Russian Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance and the Russian national wealth fund.
In response, Russia also expelled 10 US diplomats and banned eight other high-ranking US officials from entering Russia for contributing to `anti-Russian` activities.
During the interview, Ambassador Kelin also rejected the BBC’s question about why anti-Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who began a hunger strike, was not allowed to see his personal doctor for treatment.
`What about British prisoners? Do British prisoners require their own doctors?`, Ambassador Kelin asked, after explaining that Mr. Navalny was treated at a hospital near the prison.
The incident involving Alexei Navalny has fueled tensions between Russia and Western countries.
