Concerns about the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine / Article / LSM.lv

In Kiev and the West, there are growing concerns about the concentration of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border – near Donbass and annexed Crimea. Soldiers and armored vehicles are reportedly being pulled. Ukraine warns of provocations, NATO has also expressed concern. Moscow, in turn, has accused Kiev of provocations and warned it of war.

With the advent of spring, tensions between Kiev and Moscow have risen again after reports of Russian army maneuvers at the border with Ukraine. Unverified images have been published on social media showing Russian armaments as tanks being relocated to the Kremlin’s annexed Crimea and to areas on Ukraine’s eastern border controlled by Moscow-backed pro-Kremlin separatists.

Ukraine criticizes Russia for military maneuvers at its borders and warns of possible provocations. In a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, US President Joe Badien reaffirmed his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, the White House said. Biden said Ukraine would “never be left alone against Russian aggression,” Zelensky said after a telephone conversation.

“Maintaining the ceasefire regime is a guarantee for the continuation of difficult but much-needed negotiations in Minsk and Normandy formats. I would like to emphasize once again that our army is able to repel everyone. And it strengthens our position to resolve the situation through the diplomatic path chosen by Ukraine for the reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories, “Zelensky pointed out.

Russia has replied that it can move its armed forces on its territory as it wishes and insists that the maneuvers do not pose a threat to anyone.

NATO has also expressed concern about the tightening of Russian armor near Ukraine.

Moscow, for its part, accuses Kiev of “provocations” in eastern Ukraine and warns NATO not to send troops to support Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “The development of such a scenario would increase tensions at the Russian border. Of course, additional measures would be needed on the part of Russia to ensure its security. “

The White House points out that the United States is closely following developments on the Russian-Ukrainian border.

“We have already seen this scenario, with disinformation campaigns that Russia has [Kremļa] aggression at the Ukrainian border, ”said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

Meanwhile, OSCE observers have reported hundreds of violations of the ceasefire in Donbass over the past few weeks, where shootings have escalated again. Since mid-February, at least 26 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in Eastern Ukraine.

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