Russia sent US diplomatic note protesting aid to Ukraine
The U.S. received a formal diplomatic note from Russia protesting U.S. and NATO military aid to Ukraine and accused them of violating principles and potentially risking weapons falling into bad actors' hands, a U.S. official briefed on the note confirmed to ABC News.
The Russian government previously warned the U.S. and NATO against providing weapons and other military equipment. Both Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and one of his deputies, Sergei Ryabkov, also warned that Western convoys providing military aid were "legitimate targets" for Russian attack.
The White House referred questions to the State Department, but a State Department spokesperson declined to comment on "any private diplomatic correspondence."
State Department spokesperson Ned Price also declined to confirm the report, but during an interview with CNN, said, "The Russians have said some things privately. They have said some things publicly. Nothing will dissuade us from the strategy that we've embarked on."
Another source said it shows the effectiveness of U.S. weapon deliveries and security assistance, that Russia is upset is happening.
Price also told CNN that the war in Ukraine could drag on through the end of this year into next year, something other U.S. officials, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, have warned about as well.
"It is possible ... but what we're trying to do is to shorten this conflict," Price told CNN, by providing Ukraine with "unprecedented amount of security assistance" and applying pressure on Russia.
The Washington Post first reported on the diplomatic note.
-ABC News' Conor Finnegan, Matt Seyler, Justin Gomez and Shannon Crawford
