[News] Putin threatens an "appropriate response" after London announced it would provide Ukraine with depleted uranium ammunition

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Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has warned there are fewer steps left to take before a potential "nuclear collision" between Russia and the West, the reactions coming after a British official said Challenger 2 tanks to be offered to Ukraine would be equipped including depleted uranium ammunition, reports AFP and Reuters.

"Today I found out that Great Britain (...) announced not only the delivery of tanks to Ukraine, but also shells containing depleted uranium (...) If this happens, Russia will have to respond accordingly," he declared Putin to the press after the meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Speaking in London on Monday, British Secretary of State for Defense Annabel Goldie said that some of the shells that will be equipped with the 14 Challenger 2 tanks that Britain will give to Ukraine to help in the war with Russia will be armor-piercing shells. containing depleted uranium.

Asked about this statement on Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Serghei Shoigu told the press that "another step has been taken, and there are fewer and fewer steps left". Asked to specify if he was referring to the approach of a "nuclear collision" between Russia and the West, he confirmed that this was what he meant. "It was not by chance that I said about the steps. They are fewer and fewer," he warned.

Depleted uranium munitions, used in the NATO bombing of the former Yugoslavia in 1999, are used in anti-tank projectiles, being particularly effective in armor piercing. However, these projectiles have very harmful effects on the health of people in the areas where they are used.

"Of course, Russia has something to answer for" in this case, warned Minister Şoigu.
Before him, the spokeswoman of the Russian MFA, Maria Zaharova, described the London plan as a repetition of the "Yugoslav scenario", recalling that this type of depleted uranium ammunition causes cancer and contaminates the environment.