US pledges support for Ukraine amid tensions with Russia
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced Washington’s concerns about security in eastern Ukraine during a phone call with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday.
The call was aimed at affirming Washington’s “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression,” the State Department said in a statement.
A ceasefire between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists has been called into question following a series of recent violations.
US military chief contacts his Russian counterpart
Ukraine and Russia have been embroiled in deadly conflict since Russian forces annexed Crimea in 2014. Moscow continues to support separatist rebels fighting in the eastern Donbass region.
Blinken expressed his condolences for the four Ukrainian soldiers who died in the fighting last week, the highest death toll since the two sides agreed to a ceasefire last July.
The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, also contacted his Ukrainian and Russian counterparts on Wednesday. He did not disclose what was discussed in the phone calls.
Ukraine claimed that all four were killed after being attacked by Russian mortars. Russia has denied having a military presence in the Donbass region.
Ukraine warns about Russian troops
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the US government was aware of Russian troop movements on the border with Ukraine. He called it a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) recorded hundreds of ceasefire violations in recent days, including 493 on March 26 alone.
“The destabilizing actions of Russia undermine the easing of tensions that was achieved through an agreement negotiated by the OSCE in July last year,” Kirby said.
Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Ruslan Khomchak warned on Tuesday of a build-up of Russian forces near the border with Ukraine.
Kirby said Washington was discussing the situation with NATO allies and would “contact Russia to request an explanation of these developments.”
Moscow said on Wednesday it was concerned about growing hostility in the east of the country and feared that Ukrainian forces could spark another conflict with pro-Russian separatists.
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