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Satellite images from November 1st: tanks and military units in Jelnja, Russia, not far from the Ukrainian border
Photo: HANDOUT / AFP
The US and France have jointly criticized Russia for troop movements on the Ukrainian border.
The foreign ministers of the two countries, Antony Blinken and Jean-Yves Le Drian, had discussed reports of "worrying Russian military activities in and near Ukraine," a US spokesman said on Sunday evening (local time).
In doing so, they had reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine".
On Thursday, the United States asked Moscow to clarify the "unusual" activities of the army in the border area with Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Blinken warned Russia against an invasion of Ukraine - this would be a "serious mistake".
The first reports of the troop movements surfaced in early November.
Videos circulated on the Internet showed military trains and truck convoys loaded with tanks and missiles in southwest Russia.
The Ukrainian army has been fighting 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 aircraft near the Ukrainian border and in the region of the annexed Crimean peninsula in a massive deployment of troops.
The troop movements fueled fears that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could occur.
After weeks, Moscow finally declared the alleged maneuver over and withdrew its soldiers.
Putin denies interest in escalation
Meanwhile, appeasements are coming from the Kremlin.
According to President Vladimir Putin, Russia has no interest in worsening the situation in the Black Sea region.
That is why he rejected a proposal by his defense ministry to hold military exercises there in response to NATO activities, Putin said in an interview broadcast on Sunday with the broadcaster Rossiya-1.
“I should say our Department of Defense suggested that we conduct our own exercises in these waters.
But I think that would be pointless and there is no reason to further increase the tension there. «Russia will limit itself to escorting military aircraft and NATO ships.
jok / AFP
