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Military operation in Ukraine

Russian MFA says Ramstein meeting reaffirmed Western policy to escalate Ukraine conflict

Maria Zakharova noted that NATO countries don’t care about anyone in Ukraine, even their own citizens

Russian Foreign Ministry Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, January 27. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Friday said the recent meeting of NATO defense ministers at the US Ramstein base in Germany reaffirmed the West’s determination to further escalate the conflict in Ukraine.

"The Ukraine Defense Contact Group held its eighth meeting at a US military base in Germany’s Ramstein on January 20. The outcome of this meeting is an unambiguous testament to the West’s utter irresponsibility and determination to further escalate the conflict. NATO member countries have reiterated they will bolster supplies of advanced heavy offensive weapons to Kiev," she said at a news conference.

Zakharova said that NATO countries don’t care about anyone in Ukraine, even their own citizens.

"Tanks don’t move by themselves. They not only need to be driven, but also given maintenance, especially the ones that weren’t ever in service in Ukraine. Consequently, this issue was also addressed by the Ramstein group," she continued. "But I can say this: Those who will go as part of these very battalions, brigades of people accompanying the tanks, should know about the fate that their governments have prepared for them, based on the example of the citizens of their own countries, and the citizens of Ukraine, whom the West especially doesn’t care for. The West holds them for cannon fodder."

The diplomat also commented on the statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said that NATO is not going to become a party to the conflict.

"I have this question for Stoltenberg. Do you really believe that - after sending tanks that should be serviced by people, establishing recruitment offices at places like Ukrainian embassies abroad to recruit both the citizens of Ukraine and the citizens of other countries - you are still not a party to the conflict? Who are you then?" said Zakharova.

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Foreign policy Maria Zakharova Military operation in Ukraine

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