Russia accuses UK Foreign Secy David Cameron of 'direct escalation' over arms for Ukraine

Russia on Friday (May 3) reacted to UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron's statement about providing British weapons to Ukraine for the military offensive, calling it "dangerous".

Cameron on Thursdaypledged over 3 billion pounds ($3.7 billion) of annual military aid for Ukraine, stating that the UK had no objection if Kyiv wanted to use British weapons against its targets in Russia.

"Ukraine has that right. Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it's defending itself," Cameron told news agency Reuters during a visit to Kyiv.

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Cameron's remarks are quite contrary to that of the United States which has specified that any weapons that it supplies to Ukraine should only be used in its internationally recognised borders than against the targets inside Russia.

Ukraine has said that it uses its own weapons and drones at the time it launches targeted attacks against Russia, aiming at its oil refineries or railway infrastructure.

Kremlin calls Cameron's commentsdangerous

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dubbed Cameron's remarks as dangerous.

"This is a direct escalation of tension around the Ukrainian conflict, which could potentially pose a danger to European security, to the entire European security architecture," he said.

"This is where we see such a dangerous trend of escalating tension in official statements. This is a cause for our concern."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova added: "This is the first time that a Western politician has so frankly acknowledged what has long been a well-known secret for a majority of the world's countries: That the West is waging a covert war against Russia with the hands of Ukrainians."

She said that Moscow would retaliate if Ukraine launched strikes against Russia using British weapons.

"How irresponsible and callous do you have to be not to realise what such statements lead to, especially with regard to countries with nuclear weapons," Zakharova told a briefing.

"We always respond, but how can you not think about the feelings of British subjects and EU citizens."

(With inputs from agencies)