As U.S. military support for Ukraine escalated, Moscow sharply criticized the U.S. decision to supply Kiev with sophisticated missile systems and ammunition, warning of an increased risk of a direct confrontation between the two superpowers.
The Kremlin has accused Washington of "pouring oil on the fire and escalating the conflict." "Washington's plan is to fight Russia until the last Ukrainian," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
He also considered that the delivery of such shipments did not encourage the Ukrainian leadership to resume peace negotiations.
At the same time, however, he did not enslave a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, but noted that any such talks should be prepared in advance.
Work on a peace document with Ukraine had long since ceased and had not resumed.
Commenting on the Ukrainian areas controlled by his country's forces, Peskov said, "People in those areas such as Kherson, Zapourigia and Donbass must decide their own future and the Kremlin has no doubt that they will make the best decision."
Kiev had earlier announced that Russia's annexation of those countries and cities would end peace talks between the two sides.
Negotiations between the two countries have stalled since March, as Ukrainian accusations of war crimes against Russian forces have escalated.
Russia has intensified its military movements in eastern Ukraine, taking control of a number of cities in Donbass, seeking control of the entire region.
This prompted America to act and announce its decision to provide Ukrainian forces with sophisticated, precise, medium-range missiles.