Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov has told reporters that US statements that it could lift restrictions for Kiev to strike inside Russia represent an attempt to put psychological pressure on Russia.
This came after US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, gave his strongest hint yet that the White House is about to lift its restrictions on Ukraine using long-range weapons supplied by the west on key military targets inside Russia, with a decision understood to have already been made in private.
Speaking in Kyiv alongside the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, Blinken said that the US had “from day one” been willing to adapt its policy as the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine changed. “We will continue to do this,” he emphasised.
Blinken said that he and Lammy would report back to their “bosses” – Joe Biden and Keir Starmer – after their talks on Wednesday, September 12, 2024, with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Reacting to Blinken’s remarks, Ryabkov said, “This is an element of psychological warfare, which in turn is part of the hybrid war that Washington has waged against our country for a long time.”
“This is an attempt to psychologically influence and affect the strong and firm determination of our country to fully complete all the goals that have been set for the special military operation.”
Sergey Ryabkov
He emphasized that the policies and signals coming from the United States are escalatory and will not force Russia to change its course, but will instead create additional risks for Washington and its allies.
He went on to say that if the United States is indeed interested in its own security, its government needs to stop its provocative statements on the issue of Ukraine’s missile attacks and stop supplying the Kiev government with weapons.
He added that Washington should also “refrain from inciting its clients in Kyiv to make steps that can aggravate the general situation even further.”
Ryabkov Says Ties Between Russia And Iran Has No Effect On Regional Balance
Commenting on the West’s anti-Iranian sanctions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergey Ryabkov stated that the military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iran does not violate international law and has no effect on the regional balance.
“Military-technical cooperation between our countries is carried out in such a manner that it a) has no elements that are in breach of international law, including relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, and do not violate in any way our country’s national legislation and b) this cooperation has no effect on the regional balance in the Middle East.
“If the Americans keep pedaling the issue of certain supplies from Iran to Russia, it is their problems. Exhaustive explanations that there is no such cooperation have been repeatedly provided.”
Sergey Ryabkov
Nevertheless, Ryabkov stated that “malicious allegations” are the only thing heard from Washington regarding Russia’s policy and cooperation with other nations.
“Therefore, we leave this beyond common sense and we will definitely be taking action in line with our own interests and the goals of mutually beneficial and equal cooperation with all countries that show interest in this as we do, including the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Sergey Ryabkov
On September 10, 2024, the UK imposed sanctions on seven Iranian individuals and entities for their alleged aid to Russia.
Moscow and Tehran have repeatedly rejected allegations of the supplies of Iranian weapons to Russia and their use in Ukraine.
Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, that Iran had not delivered any ballistic missiles to Russia and that the United States and Europe relied on misleading information.
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