A Russian diplomat said on Tuesday that the United States' continuous military aid to Ukraine amid the war is accelerating the possibility of a "direct military clash" between Russia and NATO.
The head of the Russian delegation to the United Nations Disarmament Commission, Konstantin Vorontsov, said that the US government continues to supply weapons to Ukraine. He argued that this action facilitates the direct participation of its fighters and advisers in the conflict.
Direct Military Clash
The Russian diplomat's remarks were made during the United Nations General Assembly's First Committee. He added that not only does the supply of weapons to Ukraine prolong the war, but it also brings the situation closer to a dangerous line of a clash between Moscow and the NATO military alliance.
Vorontsov's comments come as the United States recently announced a further $625 million in military assistance for Ukraine. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that Ukrainian forces were using American support to push ahead with the "successful counter-offensive to take back their lands seized illegally by Russia," as per CNN.
The situation comes as Ukraine plans to liberate all its territory, including Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, said key advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak.
The Ukrainian official said that all of the threats made by the Russian Federation will not be able to stop Kyiv from liberating its territories. Podolyak revealed that Ukraine is working to liberate cities and towns in all directions, including in the south where Kharkiv is located.
According to the Telegraph, the Russian diplomat's remarks came as a convoy transporting equipment for Moscow's nuclear weapons program sparked fears worldwide. Many are concerned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be preparing a test to send a "signal to the West."
Russia's Nuclear Capability
Over the weekend, a train operated by the secretive nuclear division and linked to the 12th main directorate of the Russia ministry of defense was seen in central Russia. The train was reportedly heading towards the front line in Ukraine.
Rybar, a pro-Russian Telegram channel, shared the footage of the train that showed the large freight convoy carrying upgraded armored personnel carriers and other equipment. The situation comes as a defense analyst, Konrad Muzyka, who specializes in Ukraine, said that the 12th directorate operated a dozen central storage facilities for nuclear weapons.
He noted that the kit belonged to the 12th Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense, adding that the directorate is responsible for nuclear munitions, storage, maintenance, transport, and issuance to units.
Muzyka added that the move could be a signal to the West that Moscow is escalating its war on Ukraine following Putin's nuclear threat last week. However, he noted that the footage in no way proved "preparations for a nuclear release."
This comes as NATO has already warned its members that Putin may have deployed Poseidon, a nuclear weapon that is also known as the "weapon of the Apocalypse." The military alliance issued the warning note over the weekend which was leaked to the media, WION News reported.
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