State Department spokesman Price urged Russia not to use false and provocative rhetoric
Ned Price. Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
The US State Department, after statements by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on the situation in Ukraine, called on the Russian Federation to stop using “false and provocative rhetoric.” This was stated by the press secretary of the American Foreign Ministry Ned Price in his Twitter account.
“Contrary to the statements of the Russian defense minister, Russia and the forces supporting it are responsible for escalating tensions, not Ukraine or the United States,” the State Department spokesman wrote.
He called on Moscow to stop “using false, provocative rhetoric and take effective steps to de-escalate tensions in order to provide a positive atmosphere for discussion.”
Earlier, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby denied Shoigu's words about the impending provocation in Donbass, calling them “untrue.” He added that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin did not speak to Shoigu amid escalating tensions around Ukraine.
Sergei Shoigu announced the preparation of provocations with the use of chemical weapons at an expanded meeting of the board of the Ministry of Defense with the participation of President Vladimir Putin on December 21. He explained that for these purposes, the mercenaries delivered tanks with unidentified chemicals to the cities of Avdeevka and Krasny Liman.
