“Militant mood”: how Russia reacted to Nuland’s words about Ukraine’s “legitimate” goals in Crimea

The Russian embassy in Washington said that the words of Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland about US support for UAF strikes in Crimea indicate US involvement in the conflict.

“The statements by a senior State Department official on February 16 about supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces in delivering strikes on Crimea are clear confirmation of Russia’s position that the United States is directly involved in the conflict,” Igor Girenko, spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Washington, said in a statement.

According to the diplomatic mission, the American official admitted that the administration is fueling the ambitions of the Kyiv regime to attack Russia.

The embassy noted that we are talking about specific actions, since the United States is supplying Ukraine with modern weapons systems that are used to strike Russian regions.

In addition, the diplomatic mission said, the American side advises Ukrainian military leaders, plans operations together with them, and also participates in aiming weapons at targets.

“Inciting Kyiv criminals to Crimea is the same as pushing them to attack Moscow or Vladivostok.

We regard this position of Washington as an undisguised manifestation of the militant attitude of the United States towards our country, ”said the diplomat.

Along with this, the embassy noted that it should become obvious to the international community that it is the United States that is the instigator and instigator of confrontation in Ukraine.

“Washington’s attempts to use the Ukrainians to inflict a strategic defeat on us are doomed to failure.

No one can have the slightest doubt: Russia will protect its citizens and territory, ”Girenko concluded.

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Recall that earlier US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said that military facilities in Crimea are “legitimate targets” for Ukraine, and the United States supports Kyiv in the issue of hitting them.

She stated this during a speech at the Carnegie think tank in Washington.

According to her, Ukraine will not be safe until the “demilitarization” of Crimea.

The Russian side has repeatedly commented on the approach of Western politicians and officials to support the actions of the Kyiv authorities in Ukraine.

In particular, in early February, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov spoke about the supply of new types of American weapons to Kyiv, including ammunition capable of striking at a distance of about 150 km.

Answering journalists' questions in early February, the diplomat noted that "Washington sees no boundaries in its desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia."

According to the ambassador, the United States is "de facto inciting its protégés to attack the Russian regions."

As Antonov noted, for the Russian side there are no differences when it comes to “a likely attack by Kyiv criminals on the Zaporozhye or Bryansk regions, Crimea or the Smolensk region.”

“All the lands that became part of Russia by the will of their inhabitants are our Motherland, which we will defend with all our might,” the ambassador concluded.

"Any attempt will be met with a crushing rebuff"

Commenting on the possible aggression in Crimea by Ukraine, Vice Speaker of the Crimean Parliament Vladimir Bobkov said that the response of the Russian side in this case would be the most severe.

“If there are any factors that restrain our country from using the most destructive means of destruction, then the aggression against the Crimea will completely untie the hands of the Russian Federation,” RIA Novosti quotes Bobkov.

Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation from the Crimean region Leonid Ivlev also expressed the opinion that an attempt by Kyiv to strike at the Crimea would lead to a sharp response.

“Any attempts to carry out any strikes on military targets or civilian objects will receive a crushing rebuff.

There is no doubt about this, and the Crimeans can be sure of this, ”Ivlev said in an interview with RIA Novosti.