KIEV: President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Russia's charges that biological weapons were produced in Ukrainian laboratories by stating that "no chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction were developed" in his country.
"I am the President of an appropriate country, an adequate nation," Zelensky said in a video message aired on Facebook on Friday morning. In addition, he is the father of two children. And on my land, no chemical or other weapons of mass destruction were developed. That is something that the entire world is aware of. You are aware of this. And if Russia does something similar against us, it will face the most severe sanctions." Further, in response to Russia's claims that "newly found documents" revealed components of biological weapons were manufactured in Ukrainian laboratories with US Department of Defense funding, the President said, "this makes me really worried, because we've been repeatedly convinced: if you want to know Russia's plans, look at what Russia accuses others of (doing)."
"What exactly are these charges of chemical-weapons-preparation?" Have you made the decision to 'de-chemicalize' Ukraine? Is ammonia being used? Is phosphorous being used? "What else have you got planned for us?" he enquired of Russia, which has been at war with Ukraine for 16 days.
According to the BBC, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that the US was assisting Ukraine in the development of biological weapons and the employment of virus-carrying birds that migrate across Russia.
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