UN: Russia, US and Britain exchange charges over “chemical weapons” in Ukraine

The tones went up once again United Nationswhile the Russiathe USA and the Britain exchanged accusations today on the possibility of a chemical weapons attack in Ukrainewithout either side presenting evidence to support its concern.

The comments made diplomats to reporters after Russia has raised the issue of ammonia leaks in the besieged city of Sumy of northeastern Ukraine – accusing “Ukrainian supranationalist groups” – of a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council. The claim was rejected by Britain and the United States.

Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN Dmitry Poliansky says Russia’s armed forces “They never planned or carried out attacks on Ukrainian facilities where toxic substances were stored or produced”. “It is clear that the Ukrainian nationalist authorities, encouraged by Western countries, will not hesitate to intimidate their fellow citizens and direct fake attacks to accuse Russia,” Poliansky said.

This is the third time Russia has raised the issue of biological or chemical weapons since its inception. invasion of Ukraine Which he calls a “special military operation” – on 24 February.

“It is difficult not to conclude – given their history in Britain, in Russia against Alexei Navalny, what we have seen in Syria – that it may be a prelude to the Russians themselves directing some kind of fake chemical weapons attack.”British Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward told reporters.

For her part, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, dismissed Russia’s allegations as “ridiculous.” “Our concern is that they may be a harbinger of Russia’s plans to use chemical weapons.”he added.

A senior Pentagon official said today that the United States has no specific indications of an impending Russian chemical or biological weapons attack on Ukraine, but that it is still closely monitoring the situation.

US President Joe Biden said yesterday, Monday, that Russia’s false allegations that Kyiv has biological and chemical weapons show that Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering using them in the attack on Ukraine.

Poliansky likened the situation in Ukraine to that in Syria, where he said chemical attacks by “terrorist groups” were attributed to the Syrian authorities.

According to a study by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Syrian government used the neurotoxic sarin gas and in several cases used chlorine as a weapon. The same investigation also found evidence of the use of mustard gas by the Islamic State jihadist organization.