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Foreign arms deliveries to Kiev may worsen situation in conflict zone — Russian OSCE envoy

The diplomat drew attention to multiple statements by the Ukrainian authorities on requests to send foreign weapons to Ukraine

MOSCOW, October 16. /TASS/. The implementation of the plans to supply foreign arms to Kiev will be a dangerous factor exacerbating the situation in eastern Ukraine, Russia’s Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Alexander Lukashevich told a session of the organization’s Permanent Council. The text of his speech has been posted on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday.

The diplomat drew attention to multiple statements by the Ukrainian authorities "on requests to send foreign weapons to Ukraine." "The implementation of such plans will be a dangerous provoking factor that could seriously aggravate the situation in the conflict zone," he noted. According to Lukashevich, the parties need to focus their efforts on further withdrawal of weapons.

"They should push ahead without interruption with the implementation of an additional agreement to withdraw tanks and weapons with caliber under 100 mm, to ensure the necessary verification of the process by observers of the SMM [OSCE Special Monitoring Mission — TASS]," Lukashevich noted. "Complete withdrawal of heavy weapons in accordance with Point 2 of the Package of Measures is necessary as well."