The Russian presidency stated on Thursday that arms shipments to Ukraine "threaten European security," following a renewed call from British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss for the delivery of more heavy weapons and aircraft to Kyiv. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, "This trend of flooding Ukraine with weapons, especially heavy weapons, is an act that threatens the security of the continent and destabilizes it." This comes after the British Foreign Secretary mentioned that Western allies should double the support they provide to Ukraine amid its war with Russia, including the provision of fighter jets.
This is the first time Britain has publicly discussed the proposal to provide warplanes to Ukraine, which has been engaged in conflict with Russia for over two months. Support from the West to Kyiv has recently increased from munitions and anti-tank missiles to armored vehicles, and now it appears this support will extend to warplanes. In a speech regarding foreign policy at Mansion House in London, Truss stated that the international system aimed at ensuring peace and prosperity in Ukraine has failed to address the Russian assault.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Western countries are openly urging Ukraine to attack Russia, adding that the West should take Moscow seriously when it says that strikes on Russian territory will lead to a response. Russia reported a series of explosions in the south of the country and a fire at an ammunition depot on Wednesday, marking the latest incident in a string of events described by a senior Ukrainian official as retaliation against Moscow's invasion.
### German Proposal to Supply Heavy Weapons to Ukraine
In this context, the German parliament's lower house overwhelmingly approved a proposal on Thursday supporting the supply of military equipment, including heavy weapons, to Ukraine to help it repel Russian attacks. The proposal stated, "Alongside broad economic isolation and severing Russia from international markets, the most important and effective means to stop the Russian invasion is to intensify and accelerate the delivery of effective weapons and advanced systems, including heavy weapons." The proposal was supported by all three parties in the ruling coalition, along with conservative opposition deputies, with 586 members voting in favor, 100 against, and 7 abstaining, according to Wolfgang Kubicki, the deputy speaker of the parliament.
