Russian parliament officials warned that nations arming Ukraine with more powerful weapons would risk their own destruction, leading to a “global catastrophe.”
The news followed Ukraine’s supporters who pledged billions of dollars in military aid to the country on Friday, including armored vehicles, air defense systems and other equipment.
This did not include the main battle tanks that Kyiv had previously requested.
State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said: “Supplies of offensive weapons to the Kiev regime would lead to a global catastrophe.”
Russian officials have warned that nations arming Ukraine with more powerful weapons risk their own destruction
State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said: “Supplies of offensive weapons to the Kiev regime would lead to a global catastrophe”
“If Washington and NATO supply weapons to attack peaceful cities and attempt to invade our territory, as they threaten, it would trigger retaliation with more powerful weapons.”
Pledges made on Friday were overshadowed when defense leaders failed to agree on Ukraine’s urgent demand for German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks at an international meeting in Ramstein, Germany.
Germany is one of the top arms donors to Ukraine and has ordered a review of its Leopard 2 holdings in preparation for a possible green light.
Despite this, the Berlin government has shown caution at every step to increase its commitment to Ukraine, a reluctance seen as rooted in its history and political culture.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he does not rule out sending Leclerc main battle tanks to Ukraine and has asked his defense minister to “work” on the idea.
The Berlin government has exercised caution in every move to increase its commitments to Ukraine
Mr Macron spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a press conference in Paris as their countries commemorated the 60th anniversary of their post-WWII friendship treaty.
In a joint statement, France and Germany pledged their “unwavering support” to Ukraine.
France will make its tank decision based on three criteria, Macron said: that sharing the equipment would not lead to an escalation of the conflict, that it would provide efficient and viable assistance if training time was taken into account, and that it did not was to weaken France’s own military.
Mr Scholz did not respond when asked about the Leopard 2 tanks on Sunday, but stressed that his country had already made significant military contributions to Ukraine. “The USA is doing a lot, Germany is also doing a lot,” he said.
“We have constantly expanded our shipments with very effective weapons that are already available today. And all of these decisions have always been closely coordinated with our key allies and friends.’
France will base its tank decision on whether or not the sharing of equipment leads to an escalation of the conflict
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that if Germany does not send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, his country will form a coalition of countries that would send their tanks anyway
Poland and the Baltic states in particular, countries on NATO’s eastern flank that were controlled by Moscow in the past and feel particularly threatened by Russia’s renewed territorial ambitions, have met with strong criticism of Germany’s reticence.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that if Germany does not agree to moving Leopard tanks to Ukraine, his country is ready to form a coalition of countries that would send their tanks anyway.
“Almost a year had passed since the outbreak of war,” Mr Morawiecki said in an interview with Poland’s state news agency PAP, published on Sunday.
“Evidence of the Russian army’s war crimes can be seen on TV and YouTube. What more does Germany need to open its eyes and act in accordance with the possibilities of the German state?
Ukrainian military vehicles drive on a road outside the strategic city of Bakhmut
A Ukrainian soldier shows children an anti-tank missile system during the Weapons of Victory interactive exhibit, which features samples of various anti-tank weapons including the NLAW and Javelin
“Above all, Berlin should not weaken or sabotage the activities of other countries.”
In Washington on Sunday, two top lawmakers urged the US to send some of its Abrams tanks to Ukraine to overcome Germany’s reluctance to share its own more suitable Leopard 2 tanks.
“If we announce we’re giving an Abrams tank, just one, that would unleash the flow of tanks out of Germany,” Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told ABC’s This Week On Sunday.
“What I hear is that Germany is waiting for us to take the lead.” Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, said the Ramstein meeting “left no doubt that our enemies will try to exhaust us, or rather destroy us,” adding that “they have enough weapons” to reach the goal.
Mr. Medvedev, a former Russian president, warned on his messaging app channel that Russia may be trying to form a military alliance with enemies of the United States.
He didn’t name the nations he had in mind, but Russia has defense cooperation with Iran and Venezuela, an existing military alliance with Belarus, and strong ties with North Korea.
A soldier of the Ukrainian Armed Forces aims a Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon (NLAW) at a Swedish-British anti-aircraft missile launcher
Since invading Ukraine, Russia has increased both the scope and number of its joint military exercises with China.
“In the event of a protracted conflict, a new military alliance will emerge that will include nations that are fed up with Americans and a pack of their neutered dogs,” Medvedev said.
Ukraine is demanding more weapons as it expects Russian forces to launch a new offensive in the spring.
Oleksii Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council, warned that Russia could try to step up its attacks in the south and east and cut supply channels for Western weapons while capturing Kiev is “the main dream” of President Vladimir Putin remains “fantasies,” he said.
Ukraine is demanding more weapons as it expects Russian forces to launch a new offensive in the spring
He described the Kremlin’s goal in the conflict as “total and absolute genocide, a total war of annihilation.”
“Moscow wants to completely destroy Ukraine as a historical phenomenon – its language, history, culture, carriers of Ukrainian identity,” wrote Danilov in a column published by Ukrainska Pravda.
Among those calling for more arms for Ukraine was former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Sunday.
“This is the moment to double down and give Ukrainians all the tools they need to finish the job. The sooner Putin fails, the better for Ukraine and for the whole world,” Johnson said in a statement.
Mr Johnson was pictured in the town of Borodyanka in the Kyiv region.
He said he traveled to Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.