Russian Lawmaker Maria Butina Accuses West of Escalating Ukrainian Conflict

Russian lawmaker Maria Butina accused the West, particularly the United States, of provoking conflict by supporting Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory. Butina, who served time in U.S. prison as an unregistered Russian agent, described the attack as international terrorism and called for a military response.

Russian lawmaker Maria Butina on Wednesday accused the West of involvement in the Ukrainian incursion into sovereign Russian territory, warning of a dangerous escalation.

The United States and other Western backers of Ukraine have denied prior knowledge of the attack on Russia's Kursk region. 'Of course they are involved,' Butina told Reuters. 'When I studied in the United States, the main rule was: Don't poke the bear. What the West is doing today? They are poking the bear.'

Butina, who served 15 months in a U.S. prison for acting as an unregistered Russian agent and now represents the ruling United Russia party, labeled the attack as 'international terrorism' targeting civilian infrastructure. 'They try to make a PR act on blood, using military force and terrorism. That is not the way to negotiate,' she said in English. 'Our response should be in the military field, which means today to force the Ukrainian forces out and to put responsibility on those who are really responsible for escalating this conflict - the West.'

(With inputs from agencies.)