DONETSK, March 22. /TASS/. By sending depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine, the West will jeopardize the collective security in Europe, Acting DPR Head Denis Pushilin told TASS Wednesday.
"With her statement on shipment of depleted uranium ordnance to Ukraine, UK Minister of State for Defense Annabel Goldie effectively acknowledged that the West is not merely ready to escalate the conflict to a nuclear one, but is ready to jeopardize its own collective security, including that of European countries. By acting on the side of the Kiev regime, they make no effort to conceal their criminal intentions," Pushilin said.
He added that such "shameless and provocative behavior is in stark contrast with statements made by the leaders of Russia and China, who repeatedly talks about equal, respectful relations, based on mutual recognition of sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs."
"In current circumstances, the statements made by Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping that nuclear powers must not deploy nuclear weapons beyond their national territories and must withdraw weapons already deployed abroad become particularly valuable. It is obvious, which line the civilizational rift goes along. Russia’s goal is to prevent an implementation of the Western destructive scenario. And it is very good that our country gains more and more partners that share this point of view," the official concluded.
Earlier on Monday, UK Minister of State for Defense Annabel Goldie said in her written response to an inquiry by Member of the House of Lords Raymond Jolliffe that British authorities will send shells to Ukraine that contain depleted uranium and that feature improved efficiency against armored vehicles.
Commenting on this decision of British authorities, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia will have to correspondingly react to the fact that the "collective West begins using weapons with a nuclear component."
The Russian Embassy in the UK warned London against shipping depleted uranium shells to Kiev. The Embassy underscored that this step may cause an escalation of the conflict, and use of such shells in Ukraine would affect the health of the local population.