Moscow: Russia is not planning to topple the Ukrainian government as some progress has been made in three rounds of negotiations between the two countries.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, during her weekly briefing on Wednesday, said Russia is not targeting civilians while its army’s aim is not to occupy Ukraine or destruction of statehood, but to “de-Nazify” the country.
However, Russia claimed that it has documental evidence that the USA is developing bio-weapons in Ukraine.
Zakharova referred to US Under Secretary of state for political affairs Victoria Nuland confirming that laboratories for biological research do exist.
“We are not talking here about peaceful uses or scientific goals. What were you up to there? These (programmes) were financed by the US Department of Defence,” Zakharova said.
“The US Defence Department and the presidential administration of the United States are obliged to officially explain to the global community, officially, not through talking heads, about the programmes in Ukraine,” Zakharova said.
“We demand details… We demand and the world awaits,” Zakharova added.
Pentagon and Ukraine have denied allegations of bio-weapons.
Zakharova alleged that authorities in Kyiv are blocking evacuation efforts.
“Information about humanitarian corridors is deliberately not communicated to the population… Persons wishing to leave for Russia are forced to evacuate in the Western direction,” she said.
Ukraine, on the other hand, has been claiming Russia is not adhering to ceasefire which has been agreed to provide safe passage for foreign national wanting to flee the war-hit country.
