Earlier on Wednesday, two drones attempted to strike the Kremlin in Moscow in what Russia says was a Ukrainian assassination attempt on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine has denied involvement in the attack.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday that the White House was aware of Russia's charge that Ukraine carried out a drone attack against the Kremlin overnight but was unable to confirm the authenticity of the attack. She added that it was too early to determine if the US believes the drone attack was a false flag operation by Russia.
"The statements made by official representatives of Washington are strikingly cynical and absurd. They did not find it possible to admit the obvious: the terrorist act planned by [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy's regime and the attempt on the president of the Russian Federation. The time was not chosen by accident - on the eve of Victory Day, the parade on May 9, at which it is expected that foreign guests will also be present," Antonov said in response to a media question to assess the US administration's response to the drone attack on the Kremlin.
The ambassador noted that the Russian side hoped that "the US administration would have enough strength and dignity to condemn the attack," but Washington is now "shielding criminals in Kiev."
Antonov said that the statements of US high-ranking officials that Kiev could choose how to defend itself were "an example of double standards and a policy of encouraging the regime of Vladimir Zelenskyy" to attack Russia, adding that the statements about allegedly deterring the Kiev regime from striking targets outside its borders were "a false farce."
Russia would respond to the attack "when it deems it necessary" and "in accordance with the assessments of the threat that Kiev has posed," the ambassador said.