Russia insists U.S. is party to Ukraine conflict, demands withdrawal of ‘NATO troops and equipment’ from Ukraine

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy for a talk about the increasing U.S. involvement in the Ukraine war.

Tracy was handed a note alleging that the U.S. is stoking the Ukrainian army with weapons and encouraging Ukraine to attack targets within Russia. All of this, the ministry asserts, is “evidence of the inadequacy and falsehood of the American side’s claims that the U.S. isn’t party to the conflict.”

The note makes a point of requiring Washington to “take steps involving the withdrawal of American and NATO troops and equipment and putting an end to hostile anti-Russian activities.”

In the course of the meeting, the Russian side also demanded explanations with regard to the explosions on the two Nord Stream gas pipelines, accusing the U.S. of meddling in the investigation.

The U.S. embassy has not yet made any comment on the meeting or how it might respond to the Russian side’s demands.

Lynne Tracy was sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Russia on January 9, 2023. She has since been summoned to the Foreign Ministry several times.