Russia warns U.S. aid to Ukraine ‘will cause more damage and deaths’

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday that the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of security aid to Ukraine would lead to more damage and deaths in the conflict in Ukraine.

Russian news agencies quoted Peskov as saying that the decision “will make the United States richer, further destroy Ukraine, and lead to the death of more Ukrainians. This is the mistake of the Kiev regime.”

The Kremlin has been mired in the conflict in Ukraine since it invaded the country more than two years ago.

The House of Representatives approved a legislative package to provide $60.84 billion to Ukraine, including $23 billion to replenish U.S. weapons, stockpiles and facilities.

The plan is now before the U.S. Senate, which passed a similar measure two months ago and is expected to be approved next week. It will then be handed over to President Joe Biden for his signature.

Peskov also said provisions in the legislation that would allow the U.S. government to seize seized Russian assets and transfer them to Ukraine to fund reconstruction would damage the U.S. image.

He said Russia would take retaliatory measures.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev wrote on the Telegram messaging app that the US approval of aid to Ukraine was expected and based on “Russophobia.”

“Of course we will win, no matter how bloody the $61 billion, most of which will be gobbled up by their greedy military-industrial complex,” said Medvedev, one of Russia’s loudest hawks who serves as vice-president of the Security Council. wrote.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the legislation approving aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan would “deepen the crisis around the world.”

Zakharova wrote on Telegram: “Military assistance to the Kiev regime is direct sponsorship of terrorist activities.”

“For Taiwan, this is interference in China’s internal affairs. For Israel, this is a direct path to escalation, causing unprecedented heightened tensions in the region.”

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