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Russia faces “disastrous consequences” if it threatens the integrity of the territories of Ukraine, Paris and Berlin, as ministers convene a series of talks to discuss the threat posed by the rise of the military on the country’s borders.
In a joint statement, Heiko Maas and Jean-Yves Le Drian, foreign ministers of Germany and France, pledged their “unwavering support for the sovereignty, sovereignty and integrity of the Ukrainian state” after meeting their Kyiv counterpart.
Their remarks came after Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general, called on Moscow to end its conflict with Ukraine and to be more transparent in its military affairs when it warned of “unusual” numbers of Russian troops near the country’s borders.
The US informed its allies last week of intelligence indicating that Moscow is preparing to invade Ukraine. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, has dismissed the allegations as “dangerous” and has accused Nato of inciting violence in the region and its unprepared actions.
In a telephone interview with Emmanuel Macron, French President on Monday Putin said the Black Sea games were “initiatives” and criticized Ukraine for “military” damage to the Donbass which he said was “designed to undermine the Minsk alliance.”
Both parties agreed that the Donbass conflict is “escalating,” according to the Kremlin.
Kyiv estimates that Russia has sent 114,000 troops to northern, eastern and southern Ukraine – including 92,000 troops and the rest of the air and naval forces, Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military chief of staff. he tells and FT.
Speaking to the Financial Times on Monday evening, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said he hoped the allies would launch a “restraint” aimed at preventing Putin from taking part in the war. He declined to comment further.
“I am afraid that the simple words involved will not affect Russia, and it will not make it more aggressive,” he said in a post-conference conference in Brussels. “Anything that would strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and reduce Russia’s involvement in war is on the table.”
Earlier on Monday, Maas stated that Germany is making Russia a “state of the art”. [the troop build-up on Ukraine’s borders] and that this could not be the beginning of a new climb ”.
Angela Merkel, Germany’s Chancellor, spoke about this “clearly” over the phone with Putin, Maas said.
Stoltenberg said Nato’s support for Ukraine was “not a threat to Russia” and said alliance activities with allies in the Black Sea region were “defensive and transparent”.
However, Moscow criticized the US and its allies for “bad courage” over what is happening in Ukraine. Sergei Ryabkov, deputy foreign minister, told a news conference in Tass on Monday: “There are a few reasons left. It has critical remarks and its contents are very persuasive.”
EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday to discuss the situation on the eastern EU border.
The coalition has criticized the government of Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko for deliberately attracting migrants to its borders as part of a plan to undermine the EU in retaliation for supporting political opposition in Belarus.
Asked if there was any connection between the Russian situation near Ukraine and the situation in Belarus, which was aided by Russia, Josep Borrell, the EU ambassador, declined to comment. “It is clear that Lukashenko is doing what he is doing because he has strong Russian support,” Borrell said.
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