WASHINGTON: Russia has complained to the US over its military aid to Ukraine, citing “unpredictable consequences” if the shipments of advanced weapons continue.

According to the Washington Post, Moscow warned the US and NATO this week against delivering “highly sensitive” weaponry to Ukraine, saying such shipments would “add gasoline” to the situation and have “unpredictable consequences.”

Helicopters, howitzers, and armoured personnel carriers are among the $800 million in military aid provided by US President Joe Biden last week.

“What the Russians are telling us privately is precisely what we’ve been telling the world publicly — that the massive amount of assistance that we’ve been providing our Ukrainian partners is proving extraordinarily effective,” a senior administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The State Department declined to comment.

“We won’t confirm any private diplomatic correspondence,” a State Department spokesperson said.

“What we can confirm is that, along with allies and partners, we are providing Ukraine with billions of dollars’ worth of security assistance, which our Ukrainian partners are using to extraordinary effect to defend their country against Russia’s unprovoked aggression and horrific acts of violence.”

The memo was issued through conventional means and was not signed by any top Russian officials, according to the New York Times.

An anonymous US official told CNN the formal correspondence shows Russia is concerned about US continued material backing for Ukraine.

According to CNN, a source familiar with the paper believes the complaint indicates Moscow is preparing to escalate its rhetoric towards the US and NATO.

On Wednesday, as Russia refocused its efforts eastward, Biden informed his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelensky about the fresh weaponry aid plan.

“As Russia prepares to intensify its attack in the Donbas region, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself,” Biden stated.

“This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine.”

According to Zelensky, he and Biden discussed “additional package of defensive and possible macro-financial aid.”

The new help includes heavier equipment that Washington had previously declined to deliver to Kyiv for fear of escalating the confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia.

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