The Russian Ambassador stressed that there had been numerous conversations with American colleagues about the danger of the US administration being drawn into the Ukrainian conflict.WASHINGTON, December 23.
/tass/. Russia would like to receive an answer whether citizens of the United States or other NATO countries will be included in the number of specialists who will service Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMs) in Ukraine. This was stated by Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov in an interview with TASS.
"According to Politico magazine, Patriot air defense systems will serve up to 90 military personnel. Who are these people? Obviously, there are no such specialists in Ukraine. It will take a long time to train them. Will there be Americans, or maybe other NATO members? It would be good for us to get a clear and clear answer," the diplomat stressed.
"Just the other day we tried to convey to the White House and the State Department that all American systems, and first of all Patriot, will be legitimate targets for strikes by our military," Antonov added. - And if Americans die? If they will be part of the crews? What will be the reaction here in Washington? Isn't this evidence of the administration's direct involvement in the current conflict? What other confirmations of this thesis are needed, which, by the way, is so disliked here in all power structures."
The diplomat stressed that there had been numerous conversations with American colleagues about the danger of the US administration being drawn into the Ukrainian conflict. "Dozens of times they were brought to them the perniciousness of encouraging the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," he said. "They tried to reach the hearts and minds of politicians about the impossibility of agreeing with the deaths of people in the House of Trade Unions in Odessa, the shooting of disarmed soldiers, the daily murders of Russians in Donbass, Lugansk and other regions that have returned to us."
"The feeling is that Washington is testing us for strength," Antonov stressed. - A few years ago, it all started with spot deliveries of light small arms. Today we are talking about the supply of Patriot air defense systems. By the way, the amount of military aid is huge. I would like to direct these funds to peaceful needs for the countries of Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia."
On Wednesday, the US authorities announced that they are allocating a new $1.85 billion package of military assistance to Ukraine, which will include the Patriot battery for the first time. Moscow has repeatedly warned Washington against transferring such weapons to Ukraine. As the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said on December 14, Patriot will become a legitimate target of the Russian Armed Forces in the event of their delivery to Kiev.
Patriot Army mobile anti-aircraft missile systems began to enter service in the United States in the 1980s. They are manufactured by Raytheon Corporation and are capable of hitting aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, medium- and shorter-range ballistic missiles. One battery includes from five to eight mobile installations. Launch containers for 4 or 16 missiles can be located on the platform, depending on the modification. According to experts from the Washington Center for Strategic and International Studies, Patriot will become "the most expensive weapon system supplied by the United States to Ukraine" at the moment. Each SAM costs about $1.1 billion: $400 million - launchers, a command module and a radar station, about $700 million - interceptor missiles. One missile of the latest modification costs the Pentagon $4.1 million.
