Shoigu: US and its allies are trying to prolong the conflict in Ukraine as much as possible

According to Shoigu, for this, the West began to supply heavy offensive weapons for the Ukrainian army, and also openly call on Kyiv to seize Russian territories.

The head of the defense department stressed that in fact such steps draw the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance into the conflict.

He warned that these actions could lead to an unpredictable level of escalation in the conflict.

He also said that Russian groups of troops continue to grind weapons and equipment that Western countries supply to Ukraine.