US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has rejected Russia’s claims that Ukraine plans to detonate a “dirty bomb” on its own territory. The Russian allegations are not correct, Blinken wrote on Twitter on Sunday evening (local time). He spoke about it with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and promised him continued support from the United States.
According to his ministry, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had previously told European nuclear powers Britain and France that Kiev planned to detonate a radioactive bomb to discredit Moscow. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar also received a call from Shoigus.
Accusations as a pretext for escalation?
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said after his phone call with Shoigu that he had denied the allegations and warned that such allegations should not be used as a pretext for further escalation. He also emphasized the desire for de-escalation.
Conventional explosives that also disperse radioactive material are called “dirty bombs.” Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union. “Russian lies about Ukraine’s alleged plans to use a ‘dirty bomb’ are as absurd as they are dangerous,” Foreign Minister Kuleba said on Twitter. Ukraine is loyal to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. “The Russians often blame others for what they themselves intend to do,” Kuleba warned in Kiev.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
