<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The US's decision to send more military aid to Ukraine "increases the danger of a direct military clash" between Russia and the West, Moscow has warned.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Russia's ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, said it was an "immediate threat" to Moscow, describing the US as "a participant of the conflict".</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the US announced another $625m (£547m) in military aid to Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>Advanced US weaponry has been credited with helping Ukraine build momentum against occupying Russian forces.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukrainian troops have made significant advances in the country's north-east and south in recent weeks</div><div><br></div><div>The latest US hardware includes another four of the high-precision Himars multiple rocket systems.</div><div><br></div><div>In all, Washington has committed nearly $17bn in military support for Kyiv since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on 24 February.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement on Thursday, Mr Antonov warned that the US decision "to continue pumping the Kiev regime with heavy weapons only secures Washington's status as a participant of the conflict".</div><div><br></div><div>He said this would result in "protracted bloodshed and new casualties".</div><div><br></div><div>"We call on Washington to stop its provocative actions that could lead to the most serious consequences," the Russian ambassador said.</div><div><br></div><div>After suffering a string of major defeats on the battlefield in Ukraine in recent weeks, Russia has vowed to defend itself with all means available - not ruling out the use of its nuclear weapons.</div><div><br></div><div>Moscow is also pushing ahead with its annexation attempts of four Ukraine's regions: Donetsk and Luhansk in the east, and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south.</div><div><br></div><div>However, Russia does not fully control any of the regions, and Ukrainian troops have been making rapid advances in the Kherson region in recent days.</div><div><br></div><div>Mr Antonov's warning comes shortly after US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris discussed further military co-operation with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement, the White House stressed that "the United States will never recognise Russia's purported annexation of Ukrainian territory.</div><div><br></div><div>"President Biden pledged to continue supporting Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression for as long as it takes."</div><div><br></div><div>The statement said the new military aid package included "Himars, artillery systems and ammunition, and armoured vehicles".</div><div><br></div><div>The US-made HIMARS -High Mobility Artillery Rocket System - have been used to hit Russian targets such as command posts and ammunition depots.</div><div><br></div><div>It has also been used to target bridges, including those on the approach to Russian-occupied Kherson, which Ukraine is trying to reclaim. - BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd27/fas</div>