Zakharova pointed to the US desire to provide maximum assistance to the AFU before Trump's arrival

Washington is trying to raise as much money as possible to prolong the fighting in Ukraine before newly elected US President Donald Trump comes to power. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, on Thursday, November 21.

She pointed out that the Pentagon has been accelerating military aid to Kiev ahead of Trump's inauguration, increasing the volume of supplies every day.

"Washington is scrabbling through its coffers to prolong the agony from its Ukrainian puppets and ensure the continuation of hostilities not only this year, but next year as well," the diplomat said at the briefing.

Zakharova suggested that current US leader Joe Biden "has financial interests in Ukraine." She noted that some of the financial aid sent from Washington may be misappropriated by high-ranking US officials.

The law is unwritten: the United States has authorized Kiev to use anti-personnel mines

Why Washington is going for a new round of conflict escalation

The day before, The Washington Post (WP) reported that the current US president had approved the supply of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine to "deter the advance of Russian troops." WP recalled that in 2022 he renewed the ban on the use of such mines, effectively reversing the decision of his predecessor Donald Trump.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin later confirmed the decision. In his opinion, such mines will be safer than the bombs that Ukraine makes on its own.

Earlier, on October 4, the Pentagon said that the USA would send Ukraine four HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, 32 artillery pieces and 200 armored vehicles, Claymore anti-personnel mines, one thousand 155 mm rounds for remote demining and equipment for setting up barriers as part of a new $625m military aid package.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which began on February 24, 2022. The decision to conduct this operation was taken by the Russian president because of the aggravation of the situation in the region due to the increased shelling by Ukrainian troops.