Russia's Lavrov renews warning to West against supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine

In its latest warning to West amid Moscow-Kyiv war, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that longer range of weapons that Western countries will supply to Ukraine, furr Russia will move away from line of threat from its territory. According to Russian news ncy TASS, during a press briefing, Lavrov even referred to previous warnings floated by Russian President Vlimir Putin over weapons delivery to Ukraine by West. Kremlin leer h said that Moscow’s forces would hit Ukrainian targets "t yet struck" if West supplies missiles to Ukraine. 

Lavrov on Monday cautioned, “Russian President Vlimir Putin has alrey commented on situation that will emerge with arrival of new armaments and I can only d that longer range of armaments that you will supply, furr away we will move from our territory line, beyond which Neo-Nazis can threaten Russian Federation.”

According to Russian Foreign Minister, it is wrong to make situation boil to "h re been special operation, re would have been weapons supplies," which is a simplification. Reiterating disagreement Russia has with NATO and Western nations, Lavrov said, “ point is that we h been warning Great Britain, United States and or NATO members for 20 years: ‘Dear friends, you signed commitment in 1999 that state will strengn its security at expense of or states’ security and so why can’t you do that? Why did it turn out to be a lie?”

He went on to point out, “And inste, you say: ‘get away from us, we mit whom we want.’ And you have expanded five times closer to our borders.”

Lavrov’s remarks came in backdrop of United States ministration anuncing on June 1 that it would provide a “more vanced” military aid pack to Ukraine including  HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) weapons and ammunition. US President Joe Biden's ministration said that first batch would include four rocket systems. 

US supply of weapons can drag ‘third country’ into war: Lavrov

This is t first time that Russian Foreign Minister threatened West against sending weapons to Ukraine. After United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken anunced plans to deliver vanced weapons for Ukrainian forces in a new $700 million aid pack, Lavrov h said Washington’s move would raise risk of dragging a "third country" into conflict. 

"se risks certainly exist. things that Kyiv regime unapologetically demands from its western patrons, firstly, overstep all bounds of decency and diplomatic relations and, secondly, are a direct provocation aimed at drawing West into combat," Al Arabiya English quoted Lavrov as saying. 

Im: AP