MOSCOW. Feb 22 (Interfax) - There is information that the United States is planning to buy weapons from an Eastern European country and use them in Venezuela, press secretary for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said at a press briefing on Friday.
"There is information that companies of the United States and its NATO allies are considering the procurement of a large batch of weapons and ammunition from an Eastern European country for the Venezuelan opposition forces," Zakharova said.
She mentioned heavy machineguns, under-barrel and automatic grenade launchers, MANPADS, and shells of small arms, and various types of artillery systems as possible procurements.
"They are planning to deliver the cargo to Venezuela in several batches in early March via the territory of a neighboring country, using transport planes of the International Shipping Company," Zakharova said, noting there was a Ukrainian trace in the situation.
"As we understand, they will engage the state-run Antonov company amongst others," she said.
The U.S. administration "is intentionally escalating the situation in Venezuela," she said.
"As we see it, Washington will go the whole way in its plans. No one really cares about the possibility of a bloody outcome," Zakharova said.