US arming Ukraine can lead to bloodshed: Russia

MOSCOW: Moscow warned Saturday that Washington was encouraging "new bloodshed" in eastern Ukraine by its decision to provide the ex-Soviet nation with lethal weapons, while Kiev expressed the hope arms supplies could help contain Russia.

The stern Moscow warning came after a new ceasefire deal between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels went into effect from midnight Saturday ahead of the New Year and Orthodox Christmas holidays.

In a strongly-worded statement Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov accused the United States of "crossing the line" and fomenting the conflict in eastern Ukraine, a region known locally as Donbass.

"Kiev revanchists are shooting at Donbass every day, they don't want to conduct peace negotiations and dream of doing away with the disobedient population. And the United States has decided to give them weapons to do that," Ryabkov said.

"Today, the United States clearly pushes (Ukrainian authorities) towards new bloodshed," he said, adding: "American weapons can lead to new victims" in the neighbouring country.

Another deputy foreign minister, Grigory Karasin, said the US move would undermine efforts to reach a political settlement in Ukraine.

"Essentially this decision undermines the work to implement the 2015 Minsk agreements," Karasin told TASS state news agency, referring to a Western-brokered peace deal. He said Washington chose to support "the party of war" in Kiev. "This is unacceptable," he added.

He reiterated Russia´s position that Ukrainian authorities should negotiate

with Kremlin-backed rebels through "honest and direct dialogue." "There is no other way to solve the internal Ukrainian conflict."

The US State Department announced Friday that Washington had "decided to provide Ukraine enhanced defensive capabilities as part of our effort to help Ukraine build its long-term defense capacity."

An ABC news report before the announcement said the US planned to supply Ukraine with anti-tank missiles, including possibly the advanced Javelin system, citing four State Department officials.

"The total defense package of $47 million includes the sale of 210 anti-tank missiles and 35 launchers," the report added.

Ukraine welcomed Washington´s announcement, saying it would help contain "the aggressor."

"Finally!" Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Valeriy Chaly wrote on Facebook.

"Our strategic partners -- the United States -- have definitively made up their mind: as a sovereign state, Ukraine has a legitimate right to buy and receive defensive weapons including lethal weapons," he said. "Weakness provokes the aggressor. Strength contains him," he added.