Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia is continuing to build up its forces on the Ukrainian border. He called on Western countries to impose more economic sanctions on Moscow.
Kuleba made the remarks at a video news conference with international media on Tuesday (April 20), Reuters reported. He said, “Russian troops continue to be deployed in the northeast, east and south near our borders. In about a week, Russia’s total troop strength is expected to reach at least 120,000.” Kuleba added, “That doesn’t mean they will stop building up their forces at that number.”
British Foreign Secretary Raab told lawmakers Tuesday that Britain is deeply concerned about Russia’s troop buildup on the Ukrainian border. “We are working with our allies with the goal of deterring Russia, reassuring Ukraine and de-escalating the situation,” he said.
A day earlier, EU Executive Committee Vice President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said after being briefed by Ukraine’s foreign minister that Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border and in Crimea.
Borrell said there are no plans for the time being to impose new economic sanctions on Russia or expel its diplomatic staff. But he said the troop buildup on Ukraine’s borders is the largest ever.
Russia recently sent 15 warships to conduct military exercises in the Black Sea, and the U.S. warned against sending warships to the region. The ongoing build-up of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border is said to be part of a “military exercise” in response to an alleged “threat” to Russia from Ukraine’s alleged desire to join NATO.
The U.S. is again concerned about Russian military maneuvers on its border with Ukraine. The U.S. Department of Defense said the Russian troop buildup was larger than in 2014 and it was not possible to determine whether the purpose was part of the exercise.
Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 triggered an armed conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatist forces that left some 14,000 people dead. Efforts to negotiate a political settlement have been put on hold.
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