MINSK. May 25 (Interfax) - The West is forcing Ukrainian authorities to demonstrate tactical success on the battlefield and is supplying Ukraine with weapons, which leads to an escalation and prolongs the conflict, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"The situation is the tensest in the East European region. No matter the cost, the West is forcing the Kiev regime to demonstrate tactical success and readiness to fight 'to the last Ukrainian', while supplying it with weapons. Military-technical assistance to Kiev has topped $65 billion," Shoigu said at a meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Minsk on Thursday.
"Over 2,500 foreign mercenaries are taking part in punitive operations and hostilities. Terrorist methods, including sabotage and high-profile murders, are being used in the standoff," he said.
"All of that leads to an escalation and prolongs the conflict," Shoigu said.
Speaking of the military-political situation in CSTO collective security regions, Shoigu noted the destructive activity of the United States and its allies aimed to create hotbeds of tension near the borders of CSTO member states.
"I largely agree with the assessments of the military-political situation in the CSTO collective security regions made today. The situation there remains highly unstable and requires our close attention and constant control. The destructive activity of the United States and its allies aimed to create hotbeds of tension near the borders of CSTO member states has negative implications. Crises and conflicts are provoked, terrorist and extremist networks are supported, and various sorts of sanctions, threats and blackmail are used," Shoigu said.