With the Russian war against Ukraine, relations between Russia and the West have also fallen to a new low. You can see that in the Kremlin as well. Its spokesman Peskow spoke of a “long crisis” that would come.
Four months after the attack on Ukraine, Russia has described relations with the West as long-term damaged. “Yes, it will be a long crisis,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in an interview with US television channel MSNBC that was broadcast on Tuesday night. “We will never trust the West again.” Since the beginning of its war against Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly raised accusations against Western states – for example because of military support for the country under attack.
Peskov also commented on the case of the two US soldiers who fought in the Ukrainian army and were recently captured by troops loyal to Moscow. These are mercenaries and therefore do not fall under the protection of the Geneva Convention, said Peskow.
The two former US soldiers Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh were “involved in illegal activities on Ukrainian territory,” said Peskow.
US mercenaries face the death penalty
In Ukraine, Drueke and Huynh “participated in the shelling and bombing of our military personnel,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman. In doing so, they would have “threatened” the lives of Russians. “They should be held accountable for the crimes they committed,” the Kremlin spokesman demanded. Their offenses would have to be “investigated”. When asked what exactly Drueke and Huynh were guilty of, Peskow said it was not yet clear.
The Kremlin spokesman left open whether the two men were captured by Russian soldiers or by pro-Russian separatists. This is also relevant in that the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk have introduced the death penalty, while Russia has suspended it.
When asked if he could guarantee that the two US citizens would not face the same fate as three foreigners recently sentenced to death in Donetsk, Peskov said: “I can’t guarantee anything. It depends on the investigation.” Ukraine and the United Nations had heavily criticized the separatists’ handling of the two Britons and the Moroccan. The UN human rights office in Geneva spoke of prisoners of war who were entitled to protection.
US basketball player in custody in Russia
US President Joe Biden said on Friday that he did not know where Drueke and Huynh were. At the same time, he appealed to US citizens not to travel to Ukraine. On Saturday, a US State Department spokesman confirmed that authorities had photos and videos of the two US citizens who “were reportedly captured by the Russian army in Ukraine.” The US government is monitoring the situation closely.
Peskov also commented on the case of US professional basketball player Brittney Griner, who was imprisoned in Russia. He firmly rejected allegations that Russia was holding them captive as a bargaining chip. “We cannot call them hostages,” said the Kremlin spokesman. “Why should we call her a hostage? She broke Russian law and now she’s being prosecuted.”
Griner was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on February 17. Russian authorities have accused the 31-year-old, two-time Olympic champion, of drug smuggling after vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage. A week ago, her custody was extended until July 2nd.
Source: Stern
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