Russia sees security threat if US gives Kiev lethal arms

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Moscow would see any decision by the United States to give Ukraine lethal weapons as a threat to Russia's security, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.

Lukashevich was responding to calls in Washington and Kiev for the U.S. government to arm Ukrainian government forces fighting Russian-backed separatists in east Ukraine, though Washington says it still prefers a diplomatic solution.

He said Russia was concerned by the possibility of the United States providing Kiev with weapons, including under legislation passed last year on providing military assistance for Kiev.

"Taking into account the revanchist plans of the 'party of war' in Kiev, this is not only fraught with the escalation of the situation in the southeast (of Ukraine) but threatens the security of the Russian Federation," he told reporters.

Lukashevich accused Kiev of using weapons in east Ukraine that were having an effect similar to that of weapons of mass destruction. He also expressed concern about the creation of a joint Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian military force for peacekeeping operations.

Referring to NATO plans to establish command centers in eastern Europe to rapidly reinforce the region in the event of a threat from Russia, Lukashevich said creating additional forces to react near Russia's borders caused deep concern in Russia.

Also on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, standing with Ukraine's president after their talks in Kiev, urged Russia to show its commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Kerry said "our choice is diplomacy" and called on Russia to demonstrate its commitment by ceasing its military support for the separatists and helping to bring them to the negotiation table.

He made no mention during his public comments of the possibility of the U.S. providing Ukraine lethal military aid.

Several European nations oppose giving Ukraine heavy weapons, including Germany and France, whose leaders were heading to Kiev and Moscow with a proposal to end the fighting.

AP/REUTERS

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