The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that someone threw Molotov cocktails at the country’s consulate in Lviv, Ukraine, and has formally protested the attack, calling it an act of terrorism.
The ministry summoned a Ukrainian official and demanded an apology from the country’s authorities.
The Ukrainian police in Lviv stated that they have launched an investigation into the incident, calling it hooliganism.
At the time of the incident, tensions intensified due to Russia’s assembly of troops near the Ukrainian border. Trigger fear of invasion.
The Kremlin also said on Friday that it expects the United States to respond to its security requirements next month to prevent NATO’s expansion to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday urged the West to meet demand immediately, Blaming the U.S. and its allies Maintain a military presence “at our doorstep.”
Moscow Submit draft security documents Last week, NATO was asked to refuse to join Ukraine and other former Soviet countries, and to cancel the alliance’s military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Dmitry Peskov) said in a conference call with reporters on Friday: “In order to discuss easing the situation, we hope that Washington’s opponents will give a specific response to our proposal in January. .”
US President Joe Biden told Putin in a video call earlier this month that if Russia attacks Ukraine, it will face serious consequences.
Moscow denies plans to launch an attack, but has described it Then Ukraine’s expansion and weapon deployment are a red line.
At the Marathon’s annual press conference on Thursday, Putin said that the US-Russian talks that are expected to begin in Geneva next month are a positive move, but Moscow hopes they can quickly achieve results.
However, the United States and its allies have stated that they will not provide Russia with the guarantees Putin wants on Ukraine. One of NATO’s main principles is that membership is open to any eligible country. US officials are negotiating with European allies before the Geneva talks.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba said on Friday that his country must participate in any security negotiations between NATO and Russia.
“Euro-Atlantic security is at risk in Ukraine, so Ukraine should participate in security consultations on this matter,” he wrote on Twitter. “We support the idea of dialogue between the United States, the European Union, NATO and Russia, as long as the main topic is ending international armed conflicts and Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
Peskov rejected Western concerns about the build-up of Russian troops. He said the country has the right to deploy troops wherever it deems necessary on its territory, and described the recent actions as a defensive response to Western provocations.
“No matter what Russia does with its military, it does it on its own territory, and we cannot allow anyone to challenge this sovereignty,” he said. “In view of the unfriendly actions of its opponents from NATO, the United States and some European countries, Russia has taken certain actions to move and redeploy its armed forces on its territory. These opponents have carried out clear maneuvers near our borders. Reconnaissance flight and deployment of warships.”
“This has aroused our deep concern and forced us to take certain measures to ensure our safety.”
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and supported the separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people were killed in the fighting and it also destroyed Donbas, Ukraine’s industrial center.
Putin said earlier this week that Russia will have to If the West continues its “aggressive” route, it will adopt “adequate military-technical measures”.
On Friday, he welcomed another successful test of the new hypersonic weapon. He said that a batch of zircon cruise missiles had been launched “perfectly”. “This is a major event for the country and an important step in strengthening Russia’s security and improving its defense capabilities.”
Friday’s launch is the latest in a series of zircon tests. Putin has stated that zircon can fly at 9 times the speed of sound and have a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles). The missile is expected to enter service in the Russian Navy next year, and is equipped with cruisers, frigates and submarines.
Putin last month expressed concern that NATO may use Ukrainian territory to deploy missiles that can reach Moscow in just five minutes, and said that zircon will provide Russia with similar capabilities.
“It also only takes five minutes to reach the person who gave the order,” he said.
