Condemning Claims Of US Officials Have Data On Alleged Invasion Plans, Moscow Diplomats: What Are They Calling Intelligence?

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova. (Twitter/@RussianEmbassy)

JAKARTA - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced statements by US officials claiming to have data about Russia's alleged planned aggression against Ukraine as shameful.

In comments to the Zvezda television channel posted on her Telegram channel on Thursday, Zakharova drew attention to the fact that Kiev officials, who for years lamented being victims of Russian 'aggression', are now the opposite.

According to Zakharova, Ukraine keeps saying it doesn't see an 'invasion' and asks its Western supporters to reduce their rhetoric, because it undermines everything in Ukraine, from the economy and investment to public order.

"Perhaps, they (in the United States) thought it was normal to use the situation for their own revival, something went wrong then and there was no need to bring their country and people at odds again. Letting people suffer is only to increase their sense of self-worth," Zakharova said, quoted from TASS February 17.

"Besides, they're ready to go that far to give their own president, the President of the United States of America twisted false data. They're coming out one after another, Psaki, Price, Blinken, Sullivan, Nuland, to say they have intelligence. what are they talking about? Nothing but disgrace.

"(Information) that an invasion was unavoidable, that it would happen, but apparently there's no 100 percent certainty it was unavoidable, but they know the date: in 48 hours, in 24 hours, or, maybe on (February) 15, or, maybe 16, or maybe one in the morning, or maybe four in the morning."

"Is that what they call intelligence? Who did it? Is that what can be called a great power, that has nuclear weapons? Is that the current leader of the free world?" The criticism.

"Is it an advanced democracy, called to light? The way for others? Where do they get such data, to make such official statements, for their officials?" he added.

The West and Kiev have recently echoed accusations of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced these claims as empty and baseless, serving as a tactic to increase tensions, pointing out Russia poses no threat to anyone.

However, Peskov did not rule out possible provocations aimed at justifying such claims and warned that attempts to use military force to resolve the crisis in southeastern Ukraine would have serious consequences.