Russian Official Denounces 'Peak Hysteria' Following Putin-Biden Call Over Ukraine

 

"We don't understand why false information about our intentions is being passed to the media," said Yury Ukshakov, a top foreign policy advisor to the Russian president.

JON QUEALLY

February 12, 2022

Following the one-on-one call between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin on Saturday, a top Russian official accused the U.S. government of stoking dangerous "hysteria" and blasted anyone leaking unfounded claims about Moscow's intention to launch an imminent invasion of Ukraine.

"Hysteria has reached its peak," Yury Ushakov, Putin's top foreign policy advisor, told reporters on a conference call following the phone conversation between the two heads of state.

In his comments, according to Agence France-Presse, Ushakov bemoaned reports in the American press—those citing unnamed or anonymous U.S. officials—that claimed Russia had specific plans, or even a date, that an invasion would occur. On Friday, the U.S. State Department said an invasion could happen "any day," but offered no evidence to back up such claims.

"We don't understand why false information about our intentions is being passed to the media," said Ushakov, who further accused authorities in the U.S., Europe, and Kiev of "sabotaging" efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution.

In an official readout of the Biden-Putin call issued Saturday afternoon, the White House said it was made clear that "if Russia undertakes a further invasion of Ukraine, the United States together with our Allies and partners will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia."

While the statement said Biden also made clear Washington is willing to continue with diplomatic efforts, it added that the U.S.—along with its allies—"are equally prepared for other scenarios," a not-so-veiled reference to possible military action.

Russia has said repeatedly that its demand for an end to the eastward expansion of NATO, including future inclusion of Ukraine into the alliance, is central to its national security interests. Moscow has also called for autonomy for the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine and a return to peace accords contained in the Minsk agreements.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier on Saturday, in a call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said his country has no plans to invade Ukraine and condemned "the propaganda campaign unleashed by the United States and its allies concerning 'Russian aggression' against Ukraine pursues provocative goals."

While the U.S. and NATO countries in Europe have refused to accept this demand, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged against false information and unnecessary ratcheting up of tensions.

"I think there is too much information in the media about a deep, full-scale war," Zelenksy said on Saturday. "People are even naming dates."

"The best friend for our enemies is panic in our country," he added, "and all this information only creates panic, it doesn't help us."

Despite the flurry of diplomatic calls and statements on Saturday, an event in Russian territorial waters in the north Pacific triggered the Russian Defense Ministry to summon the U.S. military attache in Moscow after the country's Navy said it had detected a Virginia-class U.S. nuclear submarine in the vicinity of a battle group conducting drills in the region.

"The attache for defense issues at the US Embassy in Moscow has been summoned to the Russian Defense Ministry in connection with the violation of the Russian state border by the US Navy’s submarine," the ministry said in a statement.

According to the state-run TASS News Agency, the Defense Ministry informed the U.S. military attache that it considered the submarine's presence "a blatant violation of international law."

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