US reveals how Ukraine is trying to 'trap' Washington?

Members of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps in northern Ukraine, near the Russian border, May 24. Photo:AFP

Anatol Lieven, a political scientist and senior fellow at the Quincy Institute in the United States, said the raid by a group of Ukrainian fighters and scouts in the Belgorod region (Russia) should be a wake-up call for the Biden administration, as reports are showing that US-supplied equipment may have been involved in the raid.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry released a video of the aftermath of the Ukrainian raid in Belgorod. The video shows that the militants used American equipment, including Humvees and MaxxPro MRAP armored fighting vehicles. After the attack, many American vehicles were damaged and abandoned.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed "disappointment" over the attack by Ukrainian militants.

“We do not support the use of American-made equipment for attacks inside Russia. We have made that clear to Ukraine,” John Kirby told reporters at a news conference.

Assuming the US approach remains unchanged, the Belgorod raid could show the extent to which Kiev is ignoring Washington's views, while Ukraine continues to receive massive aid, said American political scientist Anatol Lieven.

Mr. Lieven commented that this event coincided with the US decision to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, and the statement of the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, Kirill Budanov, about Kiev's involvement in a number of plots and sabotage actions in Russia.

According to analysts, both events could lead to a serious escalation, as the US increasingly loses control in Ukraine.

Mr. Lieven expressed the view that, instead of increasing its influence, US aid to Ukraine is making Washington dependent on its "client" Kiev.

"With its key role in arming Kiev, the US has the right to demand how it is used, especially if Washington risks becoming directly involved in the fighting," said American political scientist Lieven.

The analyst called on the administration of President Joe Biden to remember that it is primarily responsible to the American people, and has no right to endanger its own people, due to direct involvement in the conflict, following the "guidance" of the Kiev government.

On the Ukrainian side, Kiev denied carrying out the raid and said it was carried out by the neo-fascist units “Free Corps of Russia” and “Russian Volunteer Corps”.

In response, the Kremlin said that it made no difference, since the aforementioned saboteurs fought in the Ukrainian army and used equipment provided by the West.

The Pentagon also said the US does not approve any transfer of equipment to paramilitary organizations other than the Ukrainian armed forces.