2 years ago
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The US has rejected arsenic “transparently false” Russia’s evidence-free assertion that Ukraine is preparing to usage a “dirty bomb” connected its ain territory arsenic portion of an escalation of Vladimir Putin’s war.
Secretary of authorities Antony Blinken told his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, connected Sunday “the satellite would spot done immoderate effort by Russia to usage this allegation arsenic a pretext for escalation”, and vowed to proceed supporting Kyiv for arsenic agelong arsenic necessary.
Earlier connected Sunday, Kuleba denounced Moscow’s claims arsenic “absurd” and “dangerous”, adding: “Russians often impeach others of what they program themselves”.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy reacted swiftly to Moscow’s claims, calling for a agreed planetary response. “If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means 1 thing: Russia has already prepared each this,” Zelenskiy said successful a video code connected societal media. “I judge that present the satellite should respond arsenic harshly arsenic possible.”
Zelenakiy said everyone “understands who is the root of everything soiled that tin beryllium imagined successful this war. It was Russia who blackmailed with the radiation catastrophe astatine the Zaporizhzhia NPP [nuclear powerfulness plant].”
On Sunday, Russia’s defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, spoke to his British, French and Turkish counterparts and claimed successful each 3 meetings that Ukraine whitethorn usage a “dirty bomb”, a accepted limb containing radioactive material. Shoigu besides spoke to Pentagon main Lloyd Austin, but Moscow did not notation the soiled weaponry allegations successful its connection summarising that call.
The Russian curate cited nary grounds for this assertion arsenic helium warned of “possible provocations” connected the portion of Kyiv.
There is nary grounds that Ukraine, which gave up its atomic weapons successful the 1990s, has immoderate radioactive worldly successful its subject arsenal.
The UK Ministry of Defence said successful a statement: “Shoigu alleged that Ukraine was readying actions facilitated by occidental countries, including the UK, to escalate the struggle successful Ukraine. The defence caput refuted these claims and cautioned that specified allegations should not beryllium utilized arsenic a pretext for greater escalation.”
The Institute for the Study of War said a “false flag” cognition by Russia was unlikely, dismissing Shoigu’s calls arsenic a sabre-rattling determination designed to intimidate Ukraine’s occidental allies and divided the Nato alliance.
Russia faces continued subject setbacks, including the likely nonaccomplishment of occidental Kherson by the extremity of the year, it said.
English (US)