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Military operation in Ukraine

Tank supplies to Kiev show Western ambition to raise stakes in conflict, diplomat says

Maria Zakharova said Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky lied "like no one else in recent history" when he proclaimed his peaceful goals as he came to power

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

© Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

MOSCOW, January 27. /TASS/. Decisions by Western countries to supply tanks to Kiev suggest that the West has been seeking a deliberate escalation, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

Commenting on the US move to send Abrams tanks to Kiev, she said, "The decision to supply tanks to Kiev, no matter who makes it, shows that the collective West has been deliberately escalating the conflict and raising the stakes, and it is clear that neither Kiev, nor the West is seeking a diplomatic solution, as they have been banning talks with our countries by law, cracking down on negotiators domestically, and asking for more weapons."

The Russian diplomat said Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky lied "like no one else in recent history" when he proclaimed his peaceful goals as he came to power. "If he lied then, how can anyone believe him today as says he needs all these tanks, funds, material and military resources for the future of Ukraine?" she wondered.

On Wednesday, the US announced that Washington would hand over 31 M1 Abrams tanks to the Kiev regime. On its part, the German government said that it would send 14 Leopard 2 tanks from its stockpiles to Ukraine and authorize their re-export by other countries. Later on Wednesday, the defense ministries of Norway and Slovakia also announced their plans to provide tanks to Kiev. Earlier, the UK, Poland and France said they would send their tanks to Ukraine.

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Foreign policy Maria Zakharova Military operation in Ukraine

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