Vladimir Chizhov, Russia’s ambassador to the European Union (EU), has denied US warnings of a probable Russian strike on Ukraine on Wednesday.
Chizhov stated this in a statement published in the German daily Die Welt on Wednesday.
The ambassador also slammed the United States’ warnings regarding a future assault on Ukraine.
“As far as Russia is concerned, I can assure you that there will be no attack this Wednesday. There will be no escalation in the coming week either, or in the week after that, or in the coming month.
“Wars in Europe rarely start on a Wednesday,” he added.
“When you make allegations – especially very serious allegations against Russia – you also have a responsibility to present evidence.
“Otherwise it’s slander,” he said.
The ambassador again urged the West to take Russia’s security concerns seriously.
“When our partners finally listen to our legitimate concerns, a process of detente will not be long in coming.
“That would be in the interest of all Europeans from Lisbon to Vladivostok, but also of all other nations in the world,” the envoy said.
Meanwhile, the US had said that it considers a Russian incursion into Ukraine possible before the close of the Winter Olympics in China on Sunday.
US and its NATO allies declared that Russia is preparing a renewed attack on Ukraine, following the 2014 annexation of Crimea, an accusation that Moscow denied.