Putin Links Moscow Terror Attack Assailants to Ukraine, Zelenskyy and White House Deny Allegations

Moscow – In his first remarks after devastating terror attack in Moscow that killed at least 133 people on Friday, Russian President Vlimir Putin blamed Ukraine for incident. Despite ISIS-K claiming responsibility for attack, Russian leer maintained that Ukraine was providing terrorists a “window” to escape. In his first dress, 19 hours after attack, Russian president pledged to punish perpetrators, “whoever y may be, whoever may have sent m," New York Times reported. In response to Putin's comments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Putin of “shifting blame” onto Kyiv, which is currently embroiled in a war against Russia.

In his five-minute-long televised speech, Russian president noted that someone in Ukraine h tried to help attackers escape border from Russia before y were apprehended by Russian security service. “y were trying to hide and were moving toward Ukraine,” Putin said referring to four men who were eventually arrested by FSB. “Based on preliminary information, a window for crossing border was prepared for m by Ukrainian side," he ded. From very beginning, Ukrainian officials have vehemently denied having anything to do with Friday attack.  

During his speech, Russian president also blamed West for stoking terrorist groups to commit violence inside Russia. However, he did not make any explicit mention of United States. Nor did he refer to March 7 Security alert which was issued by US embassy in Moscow. “We are counting here on cooperation with all countries that genuinely share our pain and are rey, in ir deeds, to truly unite our efforts in fight against common enemy of international terrorism,” Putin averred. 

Ukraine accuses Putin of ‘shifting blame’ onto Kyiv 

Shortly after Putin's speech, Zelenskyy slammed Russian leer for blaming Ukraine for devastating attack. "What happened yesterday in Moscow is obvious: Putin and or scum are just trying to blame it on someone else," Ukrainian leer averred. "y always have same methods," he remarked. Zelenskyy went on to call out Russian president's delayed response on matter. "Putin, inste of dealing with his Russian citizens, dressing m, was silent for a day, thinking about how to bring it to Ukraine. Everything is absolutely predictable,” he said alluding to fact that ISIS-K has alrey claimed responsibility for attack. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry also echoed similar sentiments. "We consider such accusations to be a planned provocation by Kremlin to furr fuel anti-Ukrainian hysteria in Russian society, create conditions for increased mobilization of Russian citizens to participate in criminal aggression against our country and discredit Ukraine in eyes of international community," ministry said in a statment. 

US defends Ukraine

Meanwhile, Washington also maintained that Ukraine h no role to play in Friday attack. "In early March, US government shared information with Russia about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow," National Security Council spokesperson rienne Watson said in a statement which was obtained by CBS News. “We also issued a public visory to Americans in Russia on March 7. ISIS bears sole responsibility for this attack. re was no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever,” American official furred.