Washington, United States.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned in an interview on Sunday that there will be “consequences” if Russia acts “aggressively” against Ukraine as concerns about growth increase. Russian troops on the border of the former Soviet republic.
“I am very concerned about Russia’s actions on Ukraine’s borders,” Blinken said on the show.Meet the press “from NBC on military deployment in the region. “That is why we are in very close contact, in close coordination, with us allies and partners in Europe. We all share this concern. “
“US President Joe Biden has been very clear on this. If Russia acts recklessly or aggressively, there will be costs, there will be consequences,” Blinken added, without specifying what those measures would consist of.
Fighting between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country has intensified in recent weeks, and signs of an increase in Russian troops in the region raise fears of an escalating conflict.
Ukraine has accused Russia of accumulating thousands of troops in its northern and eastern borders, as well as in Crimea, which is still recognized as part of Ukraine by the United Nations, but Kiev is trying to recover.
Kremlin, who did not deny the movements of his troops, said on Sunday that he was not looking for war with Ukraine, but that he would “not remain indifferent” to the fate of Russian speakers in this conflict-ravaged region.
The White House said this week that the current number of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine is higher than at any time since 2014, when the conflict erupted as a result of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine has claimed more than 13,000 lives and has become a persistent problem in Moscow’s relations with the West.
Fighting has diminished in recent years, but no diplomatic solution has been reached to define the status of the disputed regions.
Biden, who previously oversaw Washington’s policies on Ukraine, is seen as a strong ally of Ukrainians. His chief diplomat, Blinken, has agreed to support Ukraine against “Russian challenges” in talks this week with French and German counterparts.