The Kremlin denounced Thursday U.S. plans to supply depleted uranium tank rounds to Ukraine, saying Washington could be chargeable for any destructive lingering influence of the munitions’ use.
Depleted uranium munitions are controversial because of their affiliation with well being issues corresponding to most cancers and delivery defects in areas the place they have been utilized in previous conflicts, although they haven’t been definitively confirmed to have triggered such points.
The Pentagon introduced this week it might present Ukraine with the rounds as a part of a $1 billion help package deal that coincided with an unannounced go to to Kyiv by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“This is very bad news,” Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, mentioned.
“The use of these shells has resulted in a galloping increase in the number of cancer patients … The same situation will inevitably await those Ukrainian territories where they will be used.”
“Responsibility will lie with the U.S.,” he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that he would deploy depleted uranium ammunition if Ukraine acquired the arms.
Ukraine, which has been asking for extra Western assist, launched a counteroffensive towards Russian forces in June after increase assault battalions and stockpiling Western weapons.
Peskov additionally criticized Blinken’s announcement that the U.S. would give Ukraine $5.4 million in forfeited oligarch belongings to help veterans as a part of the package deal.
“We consider all cases related to the seizure and other withholding of any funds related to state property or private property of the Russian Federation to be illegal,” Peskov mentioned.
“One way or another they will lead to legal proceedings.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
