Russian MFA: NATO is fully involved in standoff with Russia

MOSCOW, 27 January (BelTA) – NATO is fully involved in the confrontation with Russia in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a news briefing in Moscow on 27 January, BelTA has learned.

"Citizens of NATO's countries should know that their bloc is completely involved in confrontation with our country. This confrontation is escalating," Maria Zakharova said while commenting on the statement by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who, when speaking at the PACE meeting on 24 January, said that European countries are fighting war with Russia. “She called a spade a spade,” Maria Zakharova said.

Referring to the meeting of the heads of the defense ministries of NATO countries at the U.S. base in Ramstein, Germany, Maria Zakharova noted that the results of the meeting confirmed the West's intention for further escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. "This meeting clearly showed that the West is grossly irresponsible and is committed to further escalation of the conflict. NATO countries have confirmed that they will increase supplies to Kiev of modern heavy offensive weapons," she said.

"They do not feel sorry for anyone in Ukraine. Now it is clear that they do not feel sorry for their own folk, because tanks do not drive by themselves. Those who will go as part of the accompanying battalions and brigades should understand their lot that their governments have prepared for them," Maria Zakharova warned.

The supply of Western tanks to Ukraine will not change the situation on the battlefield in favor of Kiev but will take the confrontation between the West and Russia to a new level, the MFA official said. "We would like to reiterate that any Western weapons that enter Ukraine become a legitimate target for the Russian armed forces. This is just FYI so that there are no complaints afterwards. The supply of tanks will not change the situation on the battlefield in favor of the Kiev regime but will take the confrontation between Western countries and our country and our people to a new level," Maria Zakharova said.

She also cited NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said that NATO is not going to become a party to the Ukrainian conflict. "I have a question for Stoltenberg. Do you really believe that by sending tanks, which should be serviced by people, recruited from among both Ukrainians and citizens of other countries by Ukrainian embassies abroad, you are still not a party to the conflict? Who are you then?" asked Maria Zakharova.

Commenting on Kiev's statements that Ukraine intends to use NATO weapons to hit Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and other Russian cities, Maria Zakharova stressed: "This is another evidence of the West's intention to raise the stakes in the conflict. This prolongs the conflict and increases casualties. They have long stopped talking about defense of Ukraine. Kiev and its NATO curators are ready to do anything to cause maximum damage to our country.”