US warns Russia of “intimidating” actions against Ukraine

The United States issued a warning to Russia on Thursday over its “intimidating” actions in Ukraine., whose representatives said 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 this poses no threat to anyone and shouldn’t worry 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.

Blinken, in an appeal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro kuleba, “Affirmed the unwavering support of the United States for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s continued aggression in Donbass and Crimea ”, Price said.

The European Union (EU) also warned on Thursday that Military recruitment in Crimea and in the city of Sevastopol for the Russian armed forces is “a violation of international humanitarian law”.

“Today Russia launched a new recruitment drive in the illegally annexed Autonomous Republic of Crimea to select residents of the peninsula for the Russian armed forces. This is another violation of international humanitarian law, ”a spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) said in a statement.

The spokesperson also recalled that the community bloc “does not and will not recognize” the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia and has warned against the illegality of recruiting citizens of the peninsula for the Russian army.

“It’s a violation of international humanitarian law. The Russian Federation is subject to international law and obliged to ensure the protection of human rights in the peninsula, ”said the EEAS spokesperson.

With information from AFP and EFE

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