٠٠:٠٤:٢٨Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's comments about a direct clash between NATO and Russia in the case of Ukraine's defeat an 'irresponsible statement' during a phone call with journalists on Friday.
"We are hearing extremely irresponsible statements that are coming from a number of European capitals, now also from overseas. These statements lead to further escalation of tension - although there seems to be nowhere to escalate it further - and the main thing is that they de facto demonstrate NATO's worldview. NATO considers Ukraine to be its territory, which once again emphasises the absolute validity of what the Russian Federation is doing and that the special military operation is correct and justified," Peskov said.
On Thursday, Austin claimed that 'NATO will be in a fight with Russia' if Ukraine is defeated, during the United States House Committee on Armed Services hearing in Washington DC.
"If Ukraine falls again, Putin won't stop there. He will just move forward and attack and take on the sovereign territory of his neighbours. If you're a Baltic state, you'll really worry about whether or not you're next. They know Putin, they know what he's capable of. Quite frankly, if Ukraine falls, I really believe that NATO will be in a fight with Russia," Austin alleged.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed Austin's words served as a confirmation of US aggression.
"Is this a direct threat to Russia or an attempt to come up with an excuse for Zelensky? Both are mad. But now everyone can see who the aggressor is - it is Washington," the diplomat wrote on her Telegram channel.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
'Extremely irresponsible statement' - Peskov after Austin claims 'NATO will go to war with Russia' if Ukraine loses
Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's comments about a direct clash between NATO and Russia in the case of Ukraine's defeat an 'irresponsible statement' during a phone call with journalists on Friday.
"We are hearing extremely irresponsible statements that are coming from a number of European capitals, now also from overseas. These statements lead to further escalation of tension - although there seems to be nowhere to escalate it further - and the main thing is that they de facto demonstrate NATO's worldview. NATO considers Ukraine to be its territory, which once again emphasises the absolute validity of what the Russian Federation is doing and that the special military operation is correct and justified," Peskov said.
On Thursday, Austin claimed that 'NATO will be in a fight with Russia' if Ukraine is defeated, during the United States House Committee on Armed Services hearing in Washington DC.
"If Ukraine falls again, Putin won't stop there. He will just move forward and attack and take on the sovereign territory of his neighbours. If you're a Baltic state, you'll really worry about whether or not you're next. They know Putin, they know what he's capable of. Quite frankly, if Ukraine falls, I really believe that NATO will be in a fight with Russia," Austin alleged.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed Austin's words served as a confirmation of US aggression.
"Is this a direct threat to Russia or an attempt to come up with an excuse for Zelensky? Both are mad. But now everyone can see who the aggressor is - it is Washington," the diplomat wrote on her Telegram channel.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's comments about a direct clash between NATO and Russia in the case of Ukraine's defeat an 'irresponsible statement' during a phone call with journalists on Friday.
"We are hearing extremely irresponsible statements that are coming from a number of European capitals, now also from overseas. These statements lead to further escalation of tension - although there seems to be nowhere to escalate it further - and the main thing is that they de facto demonstrate NATO's worldview. NATO considers Ukraine to be its territory, which once again emphasises the absolute validity of what the Russian Federation is doing and that the special military operation is correct and justified," Peskov said.
On Thursday, Austin claimed that 'NATO will be in a fight with Russia' if Ukraine is defeated, during the United States House Committee on Armed Services hearing in Washington DC.
"If Ukraine falls again, Putin won't stop there. He will just move forward and attack and take on the sovereign territory of his neighbours. If you're a Baltic state, you'll really worry about whether or not you're next. They know Putin, they know what he's capable of. Quite frankly, if Ukraine falls, I really believe that NATO will be in a fight with Russia," Austin alleged.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed Austin's words served as a confirmation of US aggression.
"Is this a direct threat to Russia or an attempt to come up with an excuse for Zelensky? Both are mad. But now everyone can see who the aggressor is - it is Washington," the diplomat wrote on her Telegram channel.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.