First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyansky, in an interview with RIA Novosti, said that Western countries could prepare a provocation in the Donbass in order to further accuse Moscow of “invading” Ukrainian territory.
“I would not reject such a scenario, it can be traced in the baseless hysteria that is being whipped up around the presence of our troops on our own territory,” Polyansky said.
The diplomat expressed hope that the West “has the prudence not to go for such a scheme.” According to Polyansky, the Russian side is extremely hopeful that “this will not happen and common sense will still prevail.”
“However, it is extremely alarming with what persistence and franticness a number of countries continue to promote false or unverified information, draw far-reaching conclusions and provocative assumptions. Under such conditions, the risk of military provocation increases many times over,” Polyansky said.
In recent months, Ukraine and Kiev’s Western partners have been saying that Russia is allegedly preparing an “attack” on Ukrainian territory. Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov stressed that such statements are “a senseless escalation of tension” and have no evidence base. The Kremlin spokesman also stressed that Moscow is moving its troops exclusively on Russian territory and does not threaten anyone.