Russian official warns Western nations that arming Ukraine with weapons risks ... trends now
Russia's parliament officials warned that nations that are arming Ukraine with more powerful weapons risk their own destruction, which would lead to 'a global catastrophe'.
The message followed Ukraine's supporters pledging billions in military aid to the country on Friday, including armoured vehicles, air defence systems and other equipment.
This did not include the battle tanks Kyiv had previously requested.
State Duma chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said: 'Supplies of offensive weapons to the Kyiv regime would lead to a global catastrophe.'
Russian officials have warned that nations arming Ukraine with more powerful weapons risk their own destruction
State Duma chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said: 'Supplies of offensive weapons to the Kyiv regime would lead to a global catastrophe'
'If Washington and Nato supply weapons that would be used for striking peaceful cities and making attempts to seize our territory as they threaten to do, it would trigger a retaliation with more powerful weapons.'
The commitments made on Friday were overshadowed by defence leaders failing at an international meeting in Ramstein, Germany, to agree on Ukraine's urgent request for German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks.
Germany is one of the main donors of weapons to Ukraine, and have ordered a review of its Leopard 2 stocks in preparation for a possible green light.
Despite this, the Berlin government has shown caution at each step of increasing its commitments to Ukraine, a hesitancy seen as rooted in its history and political culture.
Meanwhile, French president Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that he did not rule out sending Leclerc battle tanks to Ukraine and had asked his defence minister to 'work on' the idea.
Berlin's government has shown caution at each step of increasing its commitments to Ukraine
Mr Macron spoke during a during a news conference in Paris with German chancellor Olaf Scholz as their countries commemorated the 60th anniversary of their post-Second World War friendship treaty.
In a joint declaration, France and Germany committed to their 'unwavering support' for Ukraine.
France would make its tank decision based on three criteria, Mr Macron said: that sharing the equipment did not lead to an escalation of the conflict, that it would provide efficient and workable help when training time was taken into account, and that it would not weaken France's own military.
Mr Scholz did not respond when asked about the Leopard 2 tanks on Sunday, but stressed that his country had already made sizable military contributions to Ukraine. 'The US is doing a lot, Germany is doing a lot too,' he said.
'We have constantly expanded our deliveries with very effective weapons that are already available today. And we have always co-ordinated all these decisions closely with our important allies and friends.'
France will make its tank decision depending of whether or not sharing the equipment will lead to an escalation of conflict
Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki said if Germany don't send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, his country would to build a coalition of countries that would send theirs anyway
Germany's tentativeness has drawn heavy criticism, particularly from Poland and the Baltic states, countries on Nato's eastern flank controlled by Moscow in
