Russia vows to retaliate against US after Ukraine airstrikes Crimea

The war in Ukraine has worsened a crisis in relations between Russia and the West, and Russian officials say the conflict is entering its most serious phase of escalation yet.

“One should ask my colleagues in Europe, even Washington, and the press minister, why these governments are complicit in the murder of Russian children,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Russian officials said at least two children were killed in the attack on Sevastopol on Sunday. Some images showed people running away from the beach in Sevastopol and some of the injured being carried away on stretchers. Kyiv has not commented on the attack.

Russia asserted that the US government provided the weapons used in the attack, and that the US military was involved in targeting and providing data.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has recalled US Ambassador Lynne Tracy and asserted that Washington is “waging a hybrid war against Russia, becoming a party in the conflict”.

“Certain countermeasures will be taken.”

In a briefing with reporters, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Mr. Tracy conveyed Washington’s regret over the civilian deaths. He also affirmed that Washington provided weapons to help Ukraine defend its territorial sovereignty, including in Crimea.

“Ukraine made its own decision to target and conduct its own military operation,” Pentagon spokesman Charlie Dietz said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned of the risk of a widespread war that could drag the world's nuclear powers into battle, and has also asserted that Russia does not want a conflict with the US-led NATO alliance.

Russia's response

US President Joe Biden has ruled out sending US troops to fight in Ukraine. Shortly after the war in Ukraine broke out in February 2022, he also asserted that a confrontation between NATO and Russia would lead to World War III.

Mr Putin has portrayed the war in Ukraine as part of a struggle against the United States, claiming that the US had ignored Moscow's interests after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, seeking to divide Russia and seize its natural resources.

Western and Ukrainian leaders have said the war in Ukraine is a territorial struggle. Western countries deny that they want to destroy Russia, and Russia denies that it intends to attack NATO members.

After the United States allowed Ukraine to use some US-supplied weapons against Russia, the Kremlin sent signals that it considered the decision a serious escalation.

Mr Putin has ordered the exercises to include training in the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, possibly placing conventional missiles within striking distance of the US and its allies, and has signed a mutual defence agreement with North Korea.

Washington continues to prohibit Kyiv from attacking territory recognized as Russian with ATACMS missiles – a type of missile with a range of up to 300km – and other US-supplied weapons.

On Thursday, Mr. Putin said that Russia could supply weapons to North Korea in decisions he considered a tit-for-tat response to the West's arms supplies to Ukraine.

Asked about Russia's response to the attack on Crimea, Peskov referred to Putin's comments on June 6 about a wider deployment of conventional weapons.

“Of course, America's involvement in the war, causing the deaths of peace-loving Russians, will certainly have consequences.”

“What the consequences will be, only time will tell.”

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/nga-tuyen-bo-se-dap-tra-nham-vao-my-sau-khi-ukraine-khong-kich-crimea-a669852.html