France and Germany were concerned about the extent of tensions in eastern Ukraine

France and Germany expressed concerns over rising tensions in eastern Ukraine on Sunday.

The German Embassy in Ukraine shared a joint statement expressing concern over “the growing number of ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine”.

“We are monitoring the situation and we are calling for moderation and an immediate de-escalation of tensions”, shared the German Embassy. He also added in the statement that “Support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine” and they demanded that “efforts continue to implement the Minsk agreements”.

This statement comes in addition to recent US “concerns” expressed last Wednesday by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in conversation telephone.

In eastern Ukraine, conflicts have continued for years due to tensions between Ukraine and Russia. In the case of Crimea, Russia annexed this territory during the 2014 conflict with Ukraine before the population decided to incorporate it in a referendum. while the Donbass region has been experiencing armed conflict for years between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian separatists.

The Minsk Accords, signed in September 2014 and February 2015, laid the foundations for a political solution to the conflict, but so far have not resulted in an end to the violence. Hostilities have so far claimed some 13,000 lives, according to UN estimates.

As of July 27, 2020, a ceasefire has been in effect in the region which, although it has significantly reduced violence, has not prevented sporadic incidents that even continue to claim victims.

US warns Russia of “intimidating” actions in Ukraine, whose representatives claimed that Moscow had posted troops on the border between the two countries.

“We are absolutely concerned about the recent escalation of aggressive and provocative Russian actions in eastern UkraineState Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

“We will oppose any aggressive action aimed at intimidating or threatening our ally Ukraine”, added.

The Kremlin was quick to respond and, through its spokespersons, said that Ukraine, Western Countries Should Not “Worry” About Russian Troop Movements Across Ukraine Border.

“Russia moves its armed forces on its territory as it sees fit”, Russian presidency spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “But it poses no threat to anyone and should not concern anyone», He clarified.

After the truce in the second half of 2020, the conflict in eastern Ukraine has seen several armed clashes that killed 19 Ukrainian soldiers. Both sides blame each other for the escalation.

In addition, Ukraine and the United States recently indicated that there was Movements of Russian troops in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, and on the Russian-Ukrainian border, near the territories controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

Like him US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on their Ukrainian counterparts to underline their support.

(With information from Europa Press)

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