State Duma responds to British Defense Ministry statement on conflict in Ukraine

The Ukrainian conflict has long ago entered a critical phase, which was facilitated, among other things, by the actions of the United Kingdom. This was stated by a member of the State Duma defense committee, Andriy Kolesnik, on Tuesday, 26 November. Thus the deputy responded to the statement of British Defense Minister John Healey.

"The conflict is really in a critical phase. It is already on the brink. It has long ago entered a critical phase thanks to the actions of the same UK since the Istanbul talks, when [former British Prime Minister] Boris Johnson derailed the peace talks. And now they are surprised that the conflict has entered a critical phase," Kolesnik said in a conversation with Lenta.Ru.

The parliamentarian added that the strengthening of their own defense in NATO countries, which Healy spoke about, will take more than one year.

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On the eve, Healy said that the conflict in Ukraine has entered a critical phase, which requires members of the North Atlantic Alliance to strengthen their own defense, RT reported.

He said that at a meeting with the defense ministers of Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland and France, the European allies reaffirmed their commitment to NATO and promised to increase defense spending in response to growing threats, NSN reports. In addition, Healey said it was necessary to double support for Ukraine.

Earlier, on November 24, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius pointed to the superiority of the Russian Federation over the EU in the production of shells. According to him, the Russian defense industrial complex (DIC) produces as many shells in three months as all the European Union (EU) countries do in a year. He also pointed to the increase in the scale of the Ukrainian conflict.

Before that, on November 22, Alice Weidel, co-chair of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AdG) party, called Ukraine's use of Storm Shadow missiles on Russia irresponsible. According to her, this leads to further escalation, while it is necessary to seek a diplomatic balance and mutual understanding.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 21 that Ukraine had used Western long-range weapons against the Russian state, causing the regional conflict to acquire elements of a global conflict. He also said that one of Russia's newest medium-range missile systems, the Oreshnik ballistic missile, had been tested under combat conditions.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.