Sergei Naryshkin Warns of Toxicity in US Support for Ukraine

MOSCOW, Oct 11 (Reuters) – The head of Russia’s foreign intelligence agency, Sergei Naryshkin, has stated that the issue of support for Ukraine is becoming increasingly toxic in the United States. He predicts that these divisions will deepen as the country approaches next year’s presidential election.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the United States and the European Union have made significant commitments to Ukraine, totaling over $160 billion in aid, including substantial funding for military weaponry. However, concerns have been raised about potential disruptions to U.S. aid due to congressional chaos, as expressed by President Joe Biden. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has also warned about the dangers of allowing Russia to win the war in Ukraine.

Speaking during a visit to Baku, Azerbaijan, Naryshkin called the Ukrainian topic a “bone of contention” that is gaining toxicity in Washington. He framed the issue as a battle between those interested in improving American lives and those driven by a hatred towards Russians.

Experts have noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is betting on weakening American resolve over Ukraine, believing that the United States will struggle to defeat well-entrenched Russian forces in Ukraine amidst other global crises. The recent removal of House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy by Republican lawmakers has raised concerns about the future of aid to Ukraine.

CNN reported that the United States has also been urging Ukraine to address issues of corruption more effectively. Naryshkin highlighted the “malignancy” of the Ukraine issue within the U.S. political landscape, using the ousting of McCarthy as an example to support his point.

Despite tensions, Naryshkin assured that Moscow’s counter-terrorism cooperation with Western spy services continues, although the scale of such contacts has been reduced due to perceived Western aggression over Ukraine.

Moscow portrays its military operations in Ukraine as defensive against an allegedly hostile and aggressive West. However, Kyiv and its Western allies refute these claims, asserting that Russia is engaged in an unprovoked war of aggression and land grab.

Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Gareth Jones

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