Russian Envoy Claims US May Lift Restrictions on Ukraine Weapon Use
Russian ambassador to the US suggests Washington might remove limitations on Ukrainian use of US-supplied weapons. He criticizes US policy and outlines conditions for dialogue amid ongoing tensions.
In a recent statement, Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the United States, expressed his belief that Washington might eventually remove all restrictions on Ukraine's use of US-supplied weapons. This assertion comes amidst ongoing tensions between the two global powers, with the conflict in Ukraine at the center of the dispute.
Antonov, who has held his diplomatic position since 2017, criticized the current US administration's approach, employing a metaphor to describe their actions as duplicitous. He suggested that Washington's recent statements about limiting Ukraine's use of US weapons to its own territory and for defensive purposes were merely a prelude to lifting all restrictions in the future.
The United States has provided substantial military assistance to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. Over the past year and a half, this aid has exceeded $50 billion, encompassing various weapon systems such as HIMARS and Patriot missile defense systems. However, the US has maintained a policy, often referred to as the "Biden Doctrine," which restricts the use of these weapons to Ukrainian soil and defensive cross-border operations.
Antonov contended that meaningful dialogue between Russia and the US would only be possible if Washington ceased its "hostile" policies towards Moscow. These policies include not only military support for Ukraine but also the implementation of sanctions, which have been in place since 2014 and significantly expanded following the 2022 invasion.
The Russian diplomat also addressed the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session, typically held in September. He indicated that a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who has held his position since 2004, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in office since January 2021, was unlikely during this event. This suggests a continued impasse in high-level diplomatic communications between the two nations, despite both being permanent members of the UN Security Council.
In a separate statement, Antonov asserted that Russia had no intentions of interfering in the upcoming US presidential elections, scheduled for November 5, 2024. This declaration comes against the backdrop of past accusations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US election, which have contributed to the strained relations between the two countries.
"The current administration behaves like a person who extends one hand and holds a dagger behind their back with another one."
It's worth noting that the UN General Assembly has passed several resolutions condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reflecting the international community's stance on the conflict. As tensions persist and the war in Ukraine continues, the diplomatic dance between Russia and the United States remains a critical factor in global geopolitics.
