Top Russian official warns of 'global tragedy' if allies send Ukraine new weapons - New York Post

A starring authoritative successful Russia’s parliament is informing of a “global tragedy” if Ukraine gets caller weapons from allies arsenic the bitter combat betwixt the 2 nations nears the 11-month mark.

Vyacheslav Volodin, talker of State Duma — Russia’s little location of the country’s parliament — issued the ominous connection Sunday pursuing allies of Kyiv pledging to supply much armored vehicles, aerial defence systems and different instrumentality to instrumentality connected Russian troops.

He said the countries sending much almighty weapons could pb to “global calamity that would destruct their countries.”

“Supplies of violative weapons to the Kyiv authorities would pb to a planetary catastrophe,” said Volodin, a adjacent state of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“If Washington and NATO proviso weapons that would beryllium utilized for striking peaceful cities and making attempts to prehend our territory arsenic they endanger to do, it would trigger a retaliation with much almighty weapons.”

Russia’s State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.REUTERS

He claimed the United States and NATO’s assistance to Ukraine has led to a “terrible war.”

Volodin has held his existent station since 2016; anterior to that helium had a elder relation successful the statesmanlike administration. He’s besides a subordinate of Putin’s Security Council — giving him regular entree to the president.

While supporters vowed to nonstop billions of dollars successful subject assistance to Ukraine during a gathering astatine Ramstein Air Base successful Germany connected Friday, an statement wasn’t reached connected Ukraine’s urgent petition for German-made Leopard 2 conflict tanks.

The transportation of those tanks needs to approved by Berlin adjacent though they’re successful the possession of different NATO nations.

A Leopard 2 conflict tank, which Ukraine has requested from Germany to proceed warring Russia.AP

When German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was asked astir the tanks astatine a associated property league with France connected Sunday successful Paris, helium deflected, stressing alternatively the ample contributions Germany has already made to Ukraine.

“The US is doing a lot, Germany is doing a lot, too,” helium said arsenic Germany faces disapproval for its caution, peculiarly from Poland and different Baltic states.  

Germany’s apical diplomat said Sunday if Poland sends tanks into Ukraine, German officials would not object.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told French TV transmission LCI that portion Poland has not sought ceremonial approval, “if we were asked, we would not basal successful the way.”

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki vowed to nonstop Leopard tanks to Ukraine with a “smaller coalition” of countries adjacent if Germany did not springiness his state the greenish light.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, center, and French President Emmanuel Macron perceive to Young Talents of Generation Europe Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023.AP

French President Emmanuel Macron said astatine the aforesaid Paris property league that helium hasn’t ruled retired sending Leclerc conflict tanks to Ukraine. One of the factors guiding France’s determination would beryllium if the transportation of tanks would pb to an escalation of the conflict, helium said.

France and Germany were celebrating 60 years of post-World War II relationship during the 2 satellite leaders’ remarks.

Meanwhile, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) connected Sunday urged the US to nonstop Abrams tanks to Ukraine to counteract Germany’s hesitance.

 “If it requires our sending immoderate Abrams tanks successful bid to unlock getting the Leopard tanks from Germany, from Poland, from different allies, I would enactment that,” Coons said connected ABC’s “This Week.”

Ukraine successful caller weeks has asked for much weapons to hole for a imaginable caller violative from Russia successful the spring.

People sojourn the accumulation of tanks and APCs of Ukrainian equipped forces damaged and captured during the fighting. AP

Dmitry Medvedev, the lawman caput of Russia’s information council, said the gathering astatine the German aerial basal “left nary uncertainty that our enemies volition effort to exhaust oregon amended destruct us,” portion besides admitting “they person capable weapons” to bash that.

He said if the war, which began Feb. 24, 2022, drags on, it could pb to Russia forming a subject confederation with “the nations that are fed up with the Americans and a battalion of their castrated dogs.”

Medvedev, a erstwhile Russian president, warned past week atomic warfare could travel if Russia loses the warfare to Ukraine. 

With Post wires