Ukraine has significantly increased its military operations against Russian territory, leading to heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington. On July 22, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the United States of directly participating in Ukraine's attacks by providing weapons and intelligence.

During a press conference, Lavrov criticized the West's allegations that Russia and China are supplying weapons to Iran for attacks on US military facilities. He specifically pointed out that the US is not merely assisting Ukraine but is actively involved in directing its strikes on Russian targets, including civilian sites.

Lavrov stated, "The US, through the provision of weapons funded by the European Union, intelligence, Starlink systems, and more, is not just helping but is directly participating in guiding Ukrainian weaponry towards targets, including civilian ones, on Russian territory." Despite these tensions, he noted that Moscow remains committed to the understandings reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump during their meeting in Anchorage last year.

He reiterated that President Putin had accepted compromise proposals from Washington, while Trump had publicly supported negotiating a long-term peace agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire. Lavrov emphasized that Russia still considers these understandings valid, as the US has not officially rejected the proposals.

Furthermore, Lavrov is set to clarify Washington's current stance in an upcoming meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Russia has repeatedly condemned Western military support to Ukraine, asserting that it makes NATO countries direct participants in the conflict.

Moscow has warned that continued military aid prolongs the fighting and increases the risk of direct confrontation between Russia and the West. In response to rising military spending in Europe and preparations for potential conflict, Lavrov remarked that Russia has no intention of attacking Europe. However, he cautioned that if Western nations decide to unite against Russia, it would escalate beyond a conventional war.

The comments from Lavrov came after Ukrainian drones attacked two logistics centers operated by the Russian online retailer Wildberries, resulting in casualties. Wildberries, often referred to as the "Amazon of Russia," has been a target in recent weeks as Ukraine intensifies its drone operations against various infrastructures deep within Russian territory.

These drone strikes have led to significant loss of life, with reports of multiple casualties among workers at Wildberries facilities. Moscow has characterized these attacks as assaults on civilians, while asserting that its retaliatory strikes are aimed solely at military and defense-related sites in Ukraine.