New Delhi: After Russia alleged that the United States had been supporting a bioweapons programme in Ukraine, US officials in a press meet Wednesday denied the allegation and said it is a sign that Moscow could soon use the weapons themselves.
"The Kremlin is intentionally spreading outright lies that the United States and Ukraine are conducting chemical and biological weapons activities in Ukraine," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement, reported news agency AFP.
"Russia is inventing false pretexts in an attempt to justify its own horrific actions in Ukraine," the statement further added.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also condemned the allegations made by Russia . Taking to twitter, Psaki wrote, "Now that Russia has made these false claims... we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them," reported AFP.
On Wednesday, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson in a tweet claimed that Moscow had evidence of US supporting a bioweapons programme in Ukraine, which was denied by both US and Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Turkey's southern city of Antalya on Wednesday to take part in the peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv scheduled Thursday, reported news agency Reuters.
The meeting between Lavrov and his counterpart Dmytro Kuleba will be the first between the nation's top diplomats since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is brokering peace talks between both the nations.