Russian authorities have warned the United States that Moscow would break off diplomatic relations with Washington due to the West's claims that it was sponsoring terrorism.
In a statement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the proposed designation "naive" and a violation of international law. She said that the logical result of such a step becomes a break in diplomatic relations.
Point of no Return
The spokeswoman noted that Washington was risking finally crossing the "point of no return" with all the ensuing consequences. Zakharova said that lawmakers and leaders in Washington should well understand this situation.
The Senate passed a non-binding resolution last week urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism. Furthermore, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the United States to adopt the resignation. However, Blinken has balked at the plan, arguing that current sanctions are similar to what would be imposed with the designation, as per USA Today.
In a Twitter post, Zakharova said, "Make no mistake, if Washington decides to suspend its ties with Moscow, we can live with it." The bipartisan resolution identifying Russia as a sponsor of terrorism passed Thursday after it was introduced by U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal.
In response to the resolution's passing, Graham said that all 100 members of the United States Senate are urging the Biden administration to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. He noted that there was an issue of getting 100 Senate votes, but they were able to get it.
According to the Jerusalem Post, on the other hand, Blumenthal said that the designation was more than just symbolism, arguing that it had practical significance. Furthermore, despite Blinken's resistance, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that if the Secretary of State would not act, Congress would.
End of Diplomatic Relations
On Friday, Zelensky said that the deaths of dozens of prisoners in a Russian-controlled jail showed there should be legal recognition that Russia was a state sponsor of terrorism. In May, the Ukrainian parliament drafted a bill that was urging the United States government to take such actions.
In a video address on Friday, Zelensky said that he was appealing to the United States of America, arguing that a decision was needed now. On Thursday, Blumenthal noted that he would like to present a framed copy of the senate resolution to Zelensky.
When a nation is listed as a state sponsor of terrorism, having "repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism," US foreign assistance is restricted. Furthermore, it would be banned from US defense and export sales, controls over dual-use items are implemented, and other financial restrictions are leveled.
Currently, the only nations included in the list of state terrorism sponsors are Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria. The Russian Supreme Court designated the controversial Ukrainian Azov Battalion as a terrorist organization on Tuesday.
The situation comes after Russia accused the US on Tuesday of direct involvement in the war against Ukraine while the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain anchored safely off Turkey's coast. Moscow said that it was responding to comments by Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine's deputy head of military intelligence.
The issue was reportedly a result of the way Kyiv had used U.S.-made and supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers based on what he called excellent satellite imagery and real-time information, Reuters reported.
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