The Kremlin pointed to the increased direct involvement of the West in the conflict in Ukraine

The actions of Western countries regarding the conflict in Ukraine, including the supply of heavy armored vehicles to Kyiv, are perceived by Moscow as their direct involvement in it, and this involvement is growing, said the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov.

At the briefing, Peskov was asked how the Kremlin perceives the statements of US President Joe Biden that Washington is supplying tanks not to fight Russia, but to fight Ukraine for freedom, and the West’s actions to help Ukraine do not pose a threat to Russia.

“From European capitals, from Washington, statements are constantly heard that the sending of various forces of weapons, including tanks, to Ukraine in no way means the involvement of these countries or the alliance in the hostilities that are taking place in Ukraine. We strongly disagree with this. And in Moscow, everything that both the alliance and the capitals I mentioned are doing is perceived as direct involvement in the conflict. We see that it is growing,” Peskov said.

Earlier, White House National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby said that the United States do not neglect warnings from the Russian side about the inadmissibility of crossing the “red lines” against the background of the transfer of weapons to Ukraine. At the same time, as reported Earlier, a senior US administration official expressed hope that arms deliveries would allow Kyiv to seize lost territories, including Crimea. “We want to make sure that they have the right capacity not only to defend against Russia, but also the ability to take back sovereign territory. Crimea is Ukraine,” he said.

On the evening of January 25, it became known that the United States would transfer 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. It was decided to transfer such a number of tanks due to the fact that 31 M1 Abrams tanks are the equivalent of “one Ukrainian tank battalion”. Shortly before this, Berlin announced plans to supply the Armed Forces with 14 Leopard 2 tanks. German-made tanks will come from the warehouses of the Bundeswehr. According to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Germany will also provide the allies with the necessary permission to re-export their Leopard 2s to Ukraine.

Moscow has repeatedly warned of the negative consequences of sending tanks to Ukraine. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that the transfer of weapons would not fundamentally change the situation, but would “add problems” for Ukraine.