MOSCOW. March 1 (Interfax) - The United States plans to buy MANPADS and other weapons from an East European country and to supply them to countries bordering Venezuela, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"The incoming information indicates that the United States is planning to buy small arms, mortars, MANPADS, and several other types of weapons from an East European country in the near future and to airlift them to Venezuela via an airline of a post-Soviet regime, which is one of the most obedient or, actually, the most obedient to Washington," Lavrov said at a press conference following talks with Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that Ukraine's Antonov airline might deliver the weapons to the Venezuelan border.
"Indeed, as in many other countries, including Venezuela's neighbors, we have taken notice of these plans. The neighbors of Venezuela, for instance, Brazil and Colombia, have said they will not support plans for military intervention in this country," Lavrov said.