 Russia's Lavrov slams 'dangerous' arms deliveries to Ukraine Antalya, Turkey (AFP) March 10, 2022 - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday accused the European Union and other countries of "dangerously" backing the supply of arms to Ukraine, as it resists an incursion by thousands of Russian troops. "We see how dangerously our Western colleagues, including in the European Union, are acting now, which, in violation of all their so-called principles and values, encourage the supply of deadly weapons to Ukraine," Lavrov said. "We believe these countries are creating a colossal danger for themselves," the foreign minister told a press conference in Turkey following a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba. Lavrov singled out the deliveries of portable air defence systems, saying that they could be used to create "risks for civil aviation". "Where these thousands of portable missile systems are going to end up is a question we put to our colleagues in the European Union," Lavrov added. Russia's military incursion into Ukraine, which is entering its third week, has seen Western countries sharply increase supplies of military aid to their pro-Western ally Ukraine.
US authorizes $200 mn in additional military aid to Ukraine Washington already authorized $350 million of military equipment on February 26 -- the largest such package in US history. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's pleas for help have grown increasingly desperate, and he has repeatedly urged Washington, the EU and NATO for help. In a memorandum to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden designated "up to an aggregate value of $200 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Ukraine." Russia said Saturday its troops could target supplies of Western weapons in Ukraine and that the pouring in of weapons would turn convoys "into legitimate targets." The latest US authorization of military aid comes two days after the US State Department ruled out proposals to send MiG fighter jets to Ukraine via an American base, saying Kyiv's efforts to repel the Russian invasion would be better served by the supply of ground-based weapons. Washington had previously authorized $60 million in military assistance to Ukraine last fall, followed by another $200 million in December for weapons and ammunition. Biden has ruled out direct US action inside Ukraine, warning that the ensuing battle against nuclear-armed Russia would lead to "World War III." EU leaders on Friday, meanwhile, sought to double financing for military aid to Ukraine by an extra 500 million euros (around $550 million). In a video message recorded outside his presidential office in Kyiv, Zelensky demanded the EU "do more" to help his country.
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Russia on Saturday said its troops could target supplies of Western weapons in Ukraine, where the Russian army has been advancing since late February.
"We warned the United States that the orchestrated pumping of weapons from a number of countries is not just a dangerous move, it is a move that turns these convoys into legitimate targets," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state television.
He said Moscow had warned "about the consequences of the thoughtless transfer to Ukraine of weapons like man-portable air defence systems, anti-tank missile systems and so on."
Ryabkov said Washington had not taken Moscow's warnings seriously and added that Russia and the US were not holding any "negotiation processes" on Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin sent Russian troops into Ukraine on February 24 and said he aims to "de-Nazify" the country.
Moscow has been hit by a barrage of international sanctions since Putin sent in troops.
Spain to send more weapons to Ukraine
Madrid (AFP) March 11, 2022 -
The Spanish government on Friday said it would send a new shipment of weapons to Ukraine in light of the Russian invasion, without detailing what would be supplied.
Asked about the nature of the new shipment to Kyiv, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, refused to give specifics.
But he insisted it was "to help Ukraine and its army defend its independence, its sovereignty and above all to protect defenceless civilians".
"If we really want to help Ukraine... the less we speak about weapons, what type and where they're coming from, the better," he told Spain's TVE public television.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles said late Thursday Spain would send a second delivery "in the coming days".
"We have already sent a first consignment and depending on how circumstances evolve, we will send another in the next few days with one aim: so Ukraine's citizens can protect and legitimately defend themselves against this terrible invasion by Russia," she told Telecinco TV channel.
Despite the reservations of his hard-left coalition ally Podemos, Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez last week said Spain would send "the Ukrainian resistance offensive military hardware".
Robles later said that the hardware, which was delivered by plane to the border between Ukraine and Poland, comprised 1,370 grenade launchers, 700,000 rounds of ammunition and an unspecified number of light machine guns.
Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell on Friday suggested that the bloc double its funding for military aid to Ukraine, raising it to 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to help it battle Russia's invasion.
Russia's military incursion into Ukraine, now in its third week, has seen Western countries sharply increase supplies of military aid to their pro-Western ally.
But Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov has denounced the European Union and other countries for acting "dangerously" in supplying arms to Ukraine.
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