US Must Stop Acting Recklessly, Engaging In Disputes On Russian Border - State Senator

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th June, 2019) The United States has become very irresponsible as it engages in disputes on the Russian border and should stop such provocative actions given the chance that something can go wrong and trigger a thermonuclear war, Virginia State Senator Richard Black told Sputnik.

In May, the US Senate Armed Services Committee approved a draft 2020 defense budget that allocates $300 million for security aid to Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly warned the United States that sending arms to Ukraine will only fuel the conflict, destabilize the country and lead to more bloodshed.

"We really have become very reckless in getting involved in disputes that are right on the Russian border," Black said. "The president and our government need to always be mindful that while we may be overwhelmingly powerful in terms of our economy and controlling the banking system and so forth that Russia has nearly the same number of nuclear weapons that we have. We should not be reckless and should not be provocative on the Russian border. Because there is always a chance that something goes wrong.

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Black said there is a chance, however small, that a thermonuclear war may be inadvertently triggered in which every major city in United States and Russia would be destroyed.

"Is that worth being reckless? I don't think so," Black said.

Black aid the United States always starts out by saying it will provide non-lethal aid to partner states, but then almost immediately begins to provide weapons and in that way creates a constituency for war.

"That is just a way these things are done," Black said. "The problem is once you start providing Javelin anti-tank missiles, which is what we are talking about in large measure, you develop a constituency that lobbies for war. The more weapons you provide, the more weapons manufacturers want war."

Last week, US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker said that Washington is open to new military sales to Ukraine to help maintain the country's defense capabilities and continues to negotiate with Kiev on the provision of military supplies.