US arms ‘adding fuel to the fire’: Kremlin
US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday a new $700-million weapons package for Ukraine
MOSCOW/KYIV: The Kremlin on Wednesday accused Washington of “adding fuel to the fire” by planning to supply Ukraine with advanced missile systems. “We believe that the United States is adding fuel to the fire deliberately and on purpose,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“Such supplies” do not encourage Kyiv to resume peace talks, Peskov said, adding that Washington wanted to “fight Russia to the last Ukrainian”.
On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden announced a new $700 million weapons package for Ukraine that will include high mobility artillery rocket systems, which can accurately hit targets as far away as 80km.
“The US will stand with our Ukrainian partners and continue to provide Ukraine with weapons and equipment to defend itself,” Biden said.
Biden announced the plan to give Ukraine precision Himars rocket systems after receiving assurances from Kyiv that it would not use them to hit targets inside of Russian territory.
Ukraine has been seeking Multiple Rocket Launch Systems (MLRS) such as the M270 and M142 Himars - both made by
Lockheed Martin - to provide more firepower to hit Russian troop concentrations and weapons stockpiles at Russia’s rear.
Ukraine to get air def system from Germany
Germany will deliver to Ukraine an air defence system capable of shielding a “large city” from Russian air raids, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday, rejecting accusations his government had been slow to arm Kyiv.
Scholz told parliament Berlin would also be sending more weapons to Ukraine. “The government has decided that we will send the Iris-t system - the most modern system that Germany currently possesses.”
It would “enable Ukraine to protect an entire major city from Russian airstrikes”, he said.
Germany will also deliver a tracking radar system capable of detecting enemy rocket artillery, he added.
Ukraine braces for Severodonetsk fall
Ukraine looked close to losing the key eastern city of Severodonetsk to Russia on Wednesday.
“The Russians control 70% of Severodonetsk,” Lugansk region governor Sergiy Gaiday announced on Telegram, adding that Ukrainian forces were withdrawing to prepared positions.
“If in two or three days, the Russians take control of Severodonetsk, they will install artillery and mortars and will bombard more intensely Lysychansk,” the city across the river, which Gaiday said remained under Kyiv’s control. One of the industrial hubs on Russia’s path to taking the eastern Lugansk region, Severodonetsk has become a target of massive Russian firepower since the failed attempt to capture Kyiv.
Interpol warns of flood of illicit weapons
Many of the weapons being sent to Ukraine will eventually wind up in criminal hands in Europe and beyond, Interpol’s chief warned on Wednesday, urging countries to start scrutinising arms-tracking databases.
“The high availability of weapons during the current conflict will result in the proliferation in illicit arms in the postconflict phase,” Europol secretary-general Juergen Stock said.
That will only empower organised crime groups that have become increasingly global operations, capable of exploiting the chaos created from Russia’s bombardments over the past three months. “This will come, I have no doubts... Criminals are already now, here as we speak, focussing on that,” Stark said.