UK far-range artillery and anti-ship systems, which the United Kingdom has promised to Kiev, will become legitimate targets for Russian troops if delivered to Ukraine, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin told TASS, the latter reported.
"All arms supplies are destabilizing, particularly those mentioned by [UK Defense Secretary Ben] Wallace," he said. “They exacerbate the situation, making it even bloodier. Apparently, those are new, high-precision weapons. Naturally, our armed forces will view them as a legitimate target if those supplies get through the Ukrainian border."
The Russian diplomat noted that the UK had an illusory perception of the military actions in Ukraine.
"I have a feeling that London’s perceptions of what is going on in Ukraine from the military point of view are formed from overly positive reports of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and the leadership of Ukraine. If we look at maps that are being published by papers and magazines here, they rely exclusively on Ukrainian sources," Kelin said.
In Kelin’s opinion, the UK government’s moves made in connection with the events in Ukraine are aimed at further escalation.
"[The UK government’s] perception appears to be similar to the picture seen from [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky’s shelter. Those ideas serve as a basis for decisions and statements, which, in fact, contradict the reality: [ideas] that more weapons should be supplied to Ukraine, that it will become a game changer, that there is no need for negotiations at this point," he said. "This is the position of an ostrich, an attempt to hide your head in sand in a fit of powerlessness and blind rage. Wrong decisions of this kind are very dangerous, because they are aimed at fuelling the conflict and [expose] reluctance to work on settling it. They reveal the desire to do us as much harm as possible."
In his words, the Ukrainian authorities have de-facto handed over control over the situation in the country to their Western partners.
"US Ambassador [to Russia John] Sullivan said in a recent interview that the Ukrainian leadership is reluctant to make any practical decisions, it wants someone else to decide for them, most notably the Americans," he said.
