Russia on Thursday deemed the United States’ seizure of Russian assets illegal after Washington announced the delivery of $5.4 million in assets from Moscow to Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman (presidency), Dmitri Peskov, described the decision announced in Kiev by the head of US diplomacy, Antony Blinken, as “absolutely negative”.
Moscow considers “all cases of blocking or detention of funds related to public or private Russian property abroad to be illegal,” Peskov said, quoted by Spain’s Europa Press agency.
Blinken said in Kiev that the US intends the money to be used to support the integration and rehabilitation of Ukrainian war veterans.
Peskov also echoed Russian criticism of the announcement that the United States would supply Ukraine with 120mm depleted uranium ammunition to equip Abrams tanks.
It’s “very bad news,” Peskov said.
The spokesperson said that this type of ammunition was used in Yugoslavia with “very sad consequences, recorded even by international organizations”.
According to him, the use of depleted uranium projectiles caused a “galloping increase in cancer and other diseases”.
“The secondary effects were felt by the descendants of those who were in the region where these weapons were used or who came into contact with them,” he said.
He also warned that full responsibility for the consequences of using depleted uranium munitions “will rest entirely with the United States.”
“Everyone should be aware of this,” he added, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.
The use of depleted uranium ammunition, which is more capable of piercing armor, has long been a controversial topic due to potential health and environmental impacts.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday that “many militaries use depleted uranium munitions, not just the United States.”
“I would also add Russia,” Kirby said, later emphasizing that it was “effective battlefield ammunition that poses no radioactive threat to humans.”
Ukraine has been on an ongoing counter-offensive to try to regain areas controlled by Russian forces since they invaded the neighboring country on February 24, 2022.
Kiev has received weapons from Western allies, who have also imposed economic sanctions in an effort to reduce Russia’s ability to finance the war.
Source: DN
