MOSCOW– Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington showed that neither the United States nor the Ukrainian president are “ready for peace,” Russia’s ambassador to the US claimed Wednesday.
His comments came after Zelensky delivered a historic speech from the US Capitol, expressing gratitude for American support in fighting Russian aggression since the war began — and asking for more.
The Biden administration’s “conciliatory statements about the lack of intention to start a confrontation with Russia are just empty words,” Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said in a statement distributed by the Russian Embassy that decried what he described as Zelensky’s “Hollywood-style trip.”
“What was essentially announced to applauses and sarcastic smirks, was the need to continue the ‘proxy war’ against our country,” Antonov said. “Till a full victory over us.”
Ambassador’s warning: Speaking alongside Zelensky earlier Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced the US will send Kyiv a Patriot missile defense system as part of an additional $1.8 billion assistance package to Ukraine.
Antonov said Biden’s announcement came despite Russia warning the US against providing the system to Ukraine. “I think everyone understands perfectly well what fate the personnel, manning these complexes on the territory of Ukraine, can face,” he said.
The Russian ambassador also warned that US involvement in Ukraine could lead to an intensification of the conflict. “The provocative actions by the US are steadily leading to an escalation, the consequences of which cannot even be imagined,” he said.
SOURCE: CNN
