Russian legislator Maria Butina claimed on Wednesday that the West had a role in Ukraine's invasion of Russian territory, thereby engaging in a risky provocation. The United States and other Western supporters of Ukraine have refuted claims that they had prior knowledge of the significant assault on Russia's Kursk region.
"They are definitely involved," Butina responded to Reuters when questioned about the West's involvement. "During my time studying in the United States, the primary guideline was: 'Do not provoke the bear.' What is the West doing now? They are provoking the bear."
Butina, who served 15 months in a US prison for operating as an unregistered Russian agent and is now a member of the ruling United Russia party, described the attack on Russia as an act of "international terrorism" due to the targeting of civilian infrastructure.
"They attempt to create a public relations stunt using bloodshed, employing military force and terrorism, which is not the correct approach to negotiations," Butina stated in English.
"Our reaction should be military in nature, which means today we must expel the Ukrainian forces and hold accountable those truly responsible for instigating and escalating this conflict—the West."
