The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, on Wednesday, called Russian allegations that his country was responsible for the attack near Moscow that left at least 139 people dead absurd.

“Yes, I rule that out,’’ Mr Makeiev said on Deutschlandfunk public radio, adding that these were “absurd accusations.’’

He added, “Russia is trying to accuse Ukraine of terrorism in order to divert attention from its own terror.”

Recent reports stated that at least 139 people were killed and almost 200 injured in Friday’s attack when four gunmen fired at the Crocus City Hall music venue.

Islamic State has already claimed responsibility for the attack in Moscow on several occasions.

Western security authorities and experts also considered this to be credible and suspected the offshoot Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) to be behind it.

Furthermore, Russian spokespeople had talked about Islamist terrorists.

However, they insinuated that they could have acted on behalf of Ukraine or its Western supporters.

Ukraine has been engaged in a defensive war against Russia for over two years.

In the interview, Mr Makeiev also opposed statements by Social Democrat (SPD) parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich about freezing the war.

The ambassador, however, referred to the many rounds of negotiations with Russia since 2014, in which Germany was also involved.

“This freeze has only led to a huge war raging in Europe today,’’ said Mr Makeiev.

He said he spoke to Mützenich, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil and SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert behind closed doors last week.

He was assured that the SPD would not change anything regarding Germany’s support for Ukraine. 

(dpa/NAN)