Russia Accuses U.S. of Financing Bio Weapons Research in Ukraine

 Ukraine Russia War Updates

Russia on Thursday accused the United States of funding research into the development of biological weapons in Ukraine, as Moscow stepped up its campaign to gain control of key Ukrainian cities.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a televised briefing that "the purpose of this — and other Pentagon-funded biological research in Ukraine — was to establish a mechanism for the stealthy spread of deadly pathogens."

Konashenkov claimed the ministry had obtained documents detailing U.S. military-biological activities in Ukraine, including on the transfer of Ukrainians' biomaterial abroad.

He said Washington "planned to carry out research on bird, bat and reptile pathogens," as well as on African swine fever and anthrax. 

"Bio-laboratories set up and funded in Ukraine have been experimenting with bat coronavirus samples," Konashenkov added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a press conference later Thursday following talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba repeated the claim, saying Washington had funded development of biological weapons in Ukraine.

"The Americans carried out this work in complete secrecy. Just like how they work in other former Soviet states, creating their military-biological labs right along Russia's borders," he said.

Both Washington and Kyiv have denied the existence of laboratories intended to produce biological weapons in the country, which has faced a Russian assault by tens of thousands of troops since Feb. 24.

Russia has repeatedly accused the United States of secretly carrying out biological experiments in a lab in Georgia, another former Soviet republic, which like Ukraine aims to join NATO and the European Union.

Russia, Ukraine Fail to Make Progress at 'Difficult' Turkey Talks

Russia and Ukraine on Thursday failed to find a breakthrough on a ceasefire and other humanitarian issues at the first high-level talks between the two sides since Moscow's invasion.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba met on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in the Turkish resort city of Antalya for three-way talks joined by Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Kuleba said "no progress" had been achieved on even a 24-hour ceasefire, expressing frustration that "it seems that there are other decision-makers for this matter in Russia."

He also repeated his vow that the country will not give in, saying "I want to repeat that Ukraine has not surrendered, does not surrender, and will not surrender."

He described the meeting as "difficult," accusing his Russian counterpart of bringing "traditional narratives" about Ukraine to the table.

He said that he would be ready to meet with Lavrov "again in this format if there are prospects or a substantial discussion and for seeking solutions."

Ukrainian and Russian delegations have also been meeting in Belarus, but the team sent by Russia to those talks is relatively low-ranking, without a minister. 

Lavrov appeared to put a greater emphasis on those talks saying: "Today's meeting has confirmed that the Russian-Ukrainian format in Belarus has no alternative."

"We are in favor of any contacts... to solve the Ukrainian crisis... but the thing we realised is they must have added value and must not undermine the main track in Belarus."

Images of the meeting showed the Russian, Turkish and Ukrainian delegations sitting on each side of a 'U' shaped table, with each minister accompanied by just two other officials.

There was no indication that they had shaken hands ahead of the discussions.

Hospital attack

The meeting took place against the background of international outrage after an attack on a children's hospital in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol which, according to Kyiv, killed at least three people, including a young girl.

Kuleba said he wanted to emerge from the meeting with an agreement on a humanitarian corridor from the besieged city of Mariupol but "unfortunately Minister Lavrov was not in a position to commit to it."

Kuleba said Lavrov "will correspond with respective authorities on this issue."

Lavrov claimed the hospital was serving as "as a military base for nationalists" from the radical Azov Battalion.

He also accused the European Union and other countries of "dangerously" backing the supply of arms to Ukraine.

Asked by a Turkish reporter if Russia was planning to attack other nations, Lavrov replied "we don't plan to attack other countries" and claimed "we did not attack Ukraine."

He insisted that President Vladimir Putin launched the operation on Feb. 24 as the situation in Ukraine "posed a direct threat to the Russian Federation."

Multiple initiatives

Host Cavusoglu acknowledged that the meeting was "not easy" but said that the exchanges had been "very civilized" with voices never raised in anger.

He said Kuleba had reaffirmed that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was ready for a meeting with Putin and Lavrov had replied that Putin was not against it in principle.

"The meeting was an important start. No one should expect miracles at one meeting," Cavusoglu said.

The Turkey talks are one of a number of diplomatic initiatives underway. 

Israel is seeking to broker a solution through direct talks with Putin, and French President Emmanuel Macron is also frequently phoning the Kremlin chief.

"There is today a very slim hope and we need to seize it... without being naive," France's Europe Minister Clement Beaune told France Inter radio ahead of the meeting. 

Turkey is a traditional ally of Ukraine and has supplied the country with Bayraktar drones — made by a firm whose technology director is Erdogan's own son-in-law  which Kyiv has deployed in the conflict.

But it is seeking to maintain good relations with Russia, on which Turkey depends heavily for gas imports and tourism revenues. 

"We are working to stop this crisis transforming into a tragedy," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, adding he hoped for a permanent ceasefire.

In Reversal, Uniqlo Suspends Business in Russia

Casual wear giant Uniqlo will suspend operations in Russia, parent company Fast Retailing said Thursday, days after its president defended staying open in the country following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"Uniqlo has made everyday clothing available to the general public in Russia too, as part of our mission," the Japanese firm said in a statement.

"However, we have recently faced a number of difficulties, including operational challenges and the worsening of the conflict situation. 

"For this reason, we will temporarily suspend our operations."

The announcement came after Fast Retailing president Tadashi Yanai on Monday said the conflict should not deprive people in Russia of clothing, defending an earlier decision to keep its stores in the country open even as rivals Zara and H&M suspended operations.

"Clothing is a necessity of life. The people of Russia have the same right to live as we do," he said, in comments that prompted calls for a boycott.

On Thursday, the firm said it condemned "all forms of aggression that violate human rights and threaten the peaceful existence of individuals."

It said its mission and responsibility was to provide basic, affordable clothing "to all, including those affected by conflict, natural disasters and other devastations," and noted it had donated $10 million to UNHCR along with clothes for refugees.