Russia has condemned a decision by the US to send extra troops to Europe to support its NATO allies amid continuing fears of alleged Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow noted it was a “destructive” step that heightens tension and reduces the scope for a political solution.
The Pentagon disclosed 2,000 US troops would be sent from North Carolina, Poland and Germany, and a further 1,000 already in Germany would go to Romania.
However, Russia has some 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders but has denied claims of a possible invasion.
The tensions come eight years after Russia invaded Ukraine’s southern Crimea Peninsula and backed a bloody rebellion in the Eastern Donbas region.
Moscow accused the Ukrainian government of failing to implement the Minsk agreement, where Russian-backed rebels control strips of territories. At least, 14,000 people have been killed since 2014.
Responding to US President, Joe Biden’s decision to deploy extra troops to Europe this week, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Grushko said it was a “destructive” and an “unjustified” step.
Speaking on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, Mr. Grushko added that it would “delight” the Ukrainian authorities to continue sabotaging the Minsk agreement “with impunity”.
The Pentagon earlier said the American troops being deployed will not fight in Ukraine but would ensure the defence of Washington’s allies, NATO.
Their deployment is in addition to the 8,500 troops the Pentagon put on alert last month (January 2022), ready to be deployed to Europe if needed.
“It’s important that we send a strong signal to Mr Putin and, frankly, to the world that NATO matters to the United States and it matters to our allies.”
Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby told the media.
But on the question of alleged invasion plans by Mr. Putin, he said: “We still don’t believe he’s made a decision to further invade Ukraine.”
He also averred a US proposal “leaked to a European news outlet” was genuine. He appeared to be referring to a story in Spain’s El País newspaper about a US offer of talks with Russia on cutting back on nuclear weaponry and trust-building measures, in exchange for reducing tensions over Ukraine.
Meanwhile, intense diplomatic efforts continue to find a political solution to the crisis, amid fears that it could blow up to a full-scale war in Europe.
Russian President, Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine with UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson through phone on Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
Mr. Johnson told Mr. Putin that “all European democracies have a right to aspire to NATO membership”, a Downing Street statement noted.
The Russian President earlier accused the US of trying to draw his country into war with Ukraine. He said America’s goal was to use a confrontation as a pretext to impose more sanctions on Russia.
Separately, President Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron in a statement from the White House, “affirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
In a phone call, they reviewed “ongoing coordination on both diplomacy and preparations to impose swift and severe economic costs on Russia should it further invade Ukraine,” the statement stated.
The rivalry between Russia and the US dates back to the Cold War (1947-89). Ukraine was then a crucial part of the communist Soviet Union, second only to Russia.
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