Countries that supply weapons and mercenaries to Ukraine, including Slovakia, create direct problems for themselves. This was announced on March 17 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, on the air of Soloviev.Live.
“If such a decision is made – not only a question of Slovakia, but also of other countries – then they create problems for themselves,” she commented on media reports about the possible supply of Soviet-made anti-aircraft missile systems by Bratislava to Kiev.
“The same applies to the recruitment of mercenaries,” the diplomat stressed.
The day before, CNN reported that Slovakia had tentatively agreed to provide Ukraine with S-300 air defense systems, but the transfer of weapons is not yet guaranteed. The sources added that any country supplying the S-300 would likely receive a US-made Patriot air defense system to make up for the loss.
Before a final decision, Slovakia wants assurances that NATO will help them immediately replace the systems given to Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, it was reported that the UK would transfer Starstreak man-portable air defense systems to Ukraine. The decision to transfer MANPADS was made following a meeting of British Defense Minister Ben Wallace with colleagues from NATO countries.
On the same day, CNN, citing a source in the administration of US President Joe Biden, announced that the United States would send Soviet air defense systems to Ukraine. In addition, the US administration is considering the possibility of supplying Ukraine with Switchblades high-precision guided missiles as part of military assistance.
On March 5, Zakharova said that the West had begun mass deliveries to Ukraine of Stinger MANPADS (which strikes ground and surface targets at a distance of up to 8 km and an altitude of up to 3.5 km), as well as Javelin, NLAW and Carl Gustaf anti-tank systems. The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the organizers of these deliveries cannot fail to realize the growing threat of these high-precision weapons falling into the hands of terrorist elements and gangs not only in Ukraine, but also in Europe as a whole. It is only a matter of time before these types of weapons become illicit and in the hands of terrorist networks, she added.
In mid-February, due to the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian military, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics announced the evacuation of the civilian population to the Russian Federation and asked for recognition of independence.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a corresponding decree. On February 24, Russia launched a special operation to protect the civilian population of Donbass. As the press secretary of the head of state Dmitry Peskov clarified, the goals of the special operation are also the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. The RF Armed Forces strike at military targets.
For more up-to-date videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.
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