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The EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell.
Photo: Olivier Hoslet / picture alliance / dpa / Pool EPA / AP
The EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell has assured Ukraine of support in the conflict with pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country.
The Russian military activities around Ukraine are being followed with great concern, wrote Borrell on Twitter late on Sunday evening after a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitri Kuleba.
He assured "unwavering EU support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine".
Only a few days ago the US condemned Moscow's "aggressive" approach.
Ukraine is under massive threat from Russia.
Russia has annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and is also providing military support to rebels in eastern Ukraine.
In recent years there have been several militarily sensitive situations along the Russian-Ukrainian border.
The situation seems to be getting worse at the moment: Russia is concentrating more military units than before along the border, while Ukraine is preparing to call up reservists.
At the weekend, Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels accused each other of attacks.
Germany and France expressed "concern about the increasing number of ceasefire violations."
"We are observing the situation, especially the movements of Russian troops, very carefully and are calling on the parties to restraint and immediate de-escalation," said a joint statement by the Foreign Office and the French Foreign Ministry.
More than 13,000 people have already died in the conflict over eastern Ukraine.
In July last year, the conflicting parties agreed on a ceasefire.
Since mid-February, however, there has been increased fighting, which is steadily undermining the already fragile ceasefire.
Since the beginning of the year, at least 21 people have been killed on the government side and at least 23 on the separatist side.
vet / dpa