The Russian embassy in the United States has labeled Victoria Nuland, the deputy secretary of state, as evidence of American belligerence after she indicated that Washington backs plans to strike Crimea. This report comes via TASS, citing Igor Girenko, the press secretary for the Russian Embassy in Washington.
According to the embassy, a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke on February 16 about supporting Ukrainian forces in attacks on Crimea, which the statement interprets as a direct admission of U.S. involvement in the conflict. The official reportedly argued that the administration is fueling Kiev’s ambition to strike Russia.
From Moscow’s perspective, the embassy asserts that global audiences should see the United States as a provoking force in the Ukraine crisis. The discussion centers on the belief that U.S. support for offensive actions signals a broader commitment to expanding the war’s reach and intensity.
Previously, Victoria Nuland, who held the role of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, was described as endorsing the idea of attacking military targets in Crimea, characterizing those targets as legitimate. This framing is presented as evidence of a growing alignment between American policy and actions inside the conflict zone, a trend the Russian side views as escalatory and destabilizing for regional security. The window into these statements underscores ongoing tensions between Moscow and Washington over the management and escalation of hostilities in Ukraine, with Crimea standing at the center of the dispute. Citation: Russian Foreign Ministry briefings and state media reports from Moscow provide the primary attribution.