Senior U.S. military and Russian forces hold talks after tensions rise in eastern Ukraine • Ukrainians claim Russia is sending troops to the border
Russian tanks on their way to the border with Ukraine
A tense day in eastern Ukraine: A series of urgent talks took place between senior US and Russian military officials after Ukraine complained that Russia was sending troops near its eastern border, where stubborn fighting is taking place between Russian separatists and the Ukrainian army.
The Ukrainians claim that the heavy Russian presence incites violence in the two provinces held by the pro-Russian rebels.
More than 14,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of the conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2015.
The commander of the American Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Millie, spoke with his Russian counterpart, General Valery Gersimov, on the phone.
"The two commanders exchanged views on issues of concern," the U.S. military said in a memo.
"We are aware of the Ukrainian military reports of a concentration of Russian forces towards the borders of Ukraine. We have discussed our concerns about increasing tensions and the risk of a ceasefire with our NATO allies," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
Videos circulated on social media in Ukraine showed a large vehicle of armored vehicles reaching the border districts with Ukraine alongside trucks carrying bridges, a sign of a possible invasion by Russian forces into Ukrainian territory.
In the past day, the pro-Russian rebels have stopped the ceasefire eight times and shelled positions of the Ukrainian army.
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