SIMFEROPOL, March 21. /TASS/. The US authorities are pushing Kiev to attack the Crimean Peninsula because they themselves are afraid of an open confrontation with Russia, Mikhail Sheremet, a State Duma deputy representing the region, said.

On March 18, Chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed, a Democrat from the state of Rhode Island, said that Washington plans to continue providing military aid to Kiev, which would give Ukrainian troops the ability to attack the entire territory of Crimea in 2025.

"Russia is ready to respond to any challenges, Russia has enough forces, means and capabilities, considering that today Russia is a high-tech and nuclear power. Let this senator come personally, he is a coward and a scoundrel, who will neither go himself nor send his children to the army, but will push other people to bloodshed," the lawmaker said.

The deputy opined that Senator Reid, making such statements, hardly represents the interests of the American people: "I am sure that such irresponsible statements should not go unanswered and, of course, this senator should be added to the lists of criminals and terrorists. He is a threat to Americans themselves. He should remember that modern Russia is not a prey, Russia itself can defend and protect its interests. Both the US and the territories that the senator himself represents are within the range of its weapons. I am sure that the escalation of the situation and the construction of an unconstructive policy will have a very serious impact on the standard of living and further prosperity of the US itself," Sheremet pointed out.

Crimea became a Russian region in March 2014, following a referendum after the coup in Ukraine. In the referendum, 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join Russia.