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Russian soldier during training: "If necessary, check further steps"
Photo: Yegor Aleyev / imago images / ITAR-TASS
The EU has expressed concern over reports of Russian troop movements near the Russian-Ukrainian border.
"We are continuing to monitor the situation, and the information we have collected so far is rather worrying," said the spokesman for the EU's External Action Service, Peter Stano, on Friday in Brussels.
In cooperation with partners such as the USA and Great Britain "we are ready to examine further steps if necessary".
On Thursday, the United States asked Moscow to clarify the "unusual" activities of the army in the border area with Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Antony Blinken warned Russia of a "serious mistake" and reiterated US support for the "sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity" of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian army has been fighting against pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country since the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The West accuses Russia of supporting the separatists, which the government in Moscow denies.
In March, Russia gathered thousands of soldiers, heavy military equipment, naval ships and air force planes near the Ukrainian border and in the region of the annexed Crimean peninsula in a massive deployment of troops.
The troop movements sparked international concern and fears that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could occur.
After weeks, Moscow finally declared the alleged maneuver over and withdrew its soldiers.
The Kremlin had justified the exercise by saying that the defense readiness of the armed forces would traditionally be checked in the spring.
However, according to Western experts, the military deployment was stronger than it had been since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea.
mfh / AFP
