'Very bad news': Russia deplores US decision to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium shells

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Russia on Thursday denounced the US decision to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium shells, calling it "very bad news."

Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recalled that the use of this ammunition in former Yugoslavia had "very, very sad consequences recorded by international organizations."

The use of such shells, he said, "led to a galloping increase in the number of people suffering from cancer and other diseases. These consequences are also felt on the descendants of those who somehow came into contact and were in the areas of use of these weapons."

Responsibility for the consequences of the use of depleted uranium shells will lie entirely on the US, he asserted.

On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced the allocation of another $175 million package of military assistance to Ukraine, and it, for the first time, included depleted uranium shells for Abrams tanks.

- Moscow sees retention of Russian funds abroad 'illegal'

Peskov also commented on the announcement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said Washington will give money from accounts of sanctioned Russian businessmen to Ukraine.

"Each case of illegal retention of funds of the Russian Federation abroad will entail serious legal proceedings," he said.

"We consider all cases related to the blocking, arrest, or other retention of any funds related to state, private, or mixed property of the Russian Federation abroad as illegal acts.

"Of course, any claims that they managed to find justifications for the continuation of this lawlessness are absolute legal nonsense, and in any case, they will lead in one way or another to court proceedings in the future," he warned.

The spokesman added that currently the Russian state and its entrepreneurs are very often infringed on the rights to defend their interests in the courts abroad, which he described as "an outrageous fact."

Despite difficulties in defending Russia's position in the Western courts, there are some positive examples, he also said.

"In some countries, these actions against our entrepreneurs have already been declared illegal by the European courts themselves. And this work – both on the line of our businessmen and on the line of the state – will continue," he said.

- Putin not to address G-20

Asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans to address the Group of 20 meeting in India, Peskov said: "No, no such plans. All work will be conducted by the foreign minister."

The G-20 summit in New Delhi will be held on Sept. 9-10, as the leaders of all member countries and of nine other states – Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Nigeria, the Netherlands, Oman, Singapore, Spain, the United Arab Emirates – are invited to attend the meeting.

Turning to the speculations about a possible visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Russia, Peskov said he had nothing to say about it.

About bilateral relations with North Korea, he said Moscow values ties with Pyongyang.

"We have our own relations with Pyongyang, we value these relations, this is our neighbor – North Korea, and we, of course, will continue to develop relations with them regardless of the opinions of other countries," he said.

As for Armenia's decision to hold a joint military drill with the US, Peskov said the exercises will not contribute to stabilization in the region.

On Sept. 7, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Azerbaijan had deployed more troops on the border with Armenia and the dividing line with Nagorno-Karabakh region. In his opinion, "the situation is such that the international community, the member states of the UN Security Council should take serious measures to prevent a new explosion in the region."

On Wednesday, the Armenian Defense Ministry announced that the joint US-Armenian military exercises Eagle Partner 2023 will be held on Armenian territory from Sept. 11 to 20.