Moscow calls tanks deliveries to Ukraine 'direct involvement' of European countries, NATO in 'conflict'

MOSCOW (AA) – Raising the specter of escalation of the Ukraine war, a Kremlin spokesman said Thursday that Russia sees European and NATO countries supplying weapons to Ukraine – including a host of just-announced tank supplies – as their “direct involvement” in the "conflict".

"Statements are constantly being made from European capitals and Washington that sending various weapons systems, including tanks, to Ukraine in no case means that these countries or the alliance are involved in the fighting that is taking place in Ukraine. We categorically disagree with this," Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing in Moscow.

"In Moscow, everything that the alliance and the capitals I mentioned are doing is perceived as direct involvement in the conflict," he explained.

He added that Moscow noted that this involvement has been growing.

The US announced on Wednesday that it will send Abrams tanks to Ukraine, while Germany, Spain, and Norway said they will supply heavy Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv.

Ukraine has been pressing for the tanks for some time, along with other weapons, arguing that they are needed to fight off an expected Russian offensive this spring.