NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday said Russia appeared to be building up its forces around Ukraine, although Moscow has announced the withdrawal of more border troops.
“We have heard signs from Moscow about the willingness to continue diplomatic efforts, but so far we have not seen any de-escalation on floor. On the contrary, it seems that Russia continues son military buildup,” Stoltenberg said before of a meeting of NATO defense ministers. “What we see is that they have increased the number of troops and more the troops are on their way.”
NATO will continue to monitor the situation and put pressure for diplomacy, he said.
Stoltenberg urged Moscow to prove that he pulls back troops amid tensions over a military accumulate on borders of Ukraine, saying soldiers and reservoirs often move on.
“This remains to see if there is a Russian withdrawal … What we see is that they have increased the number of troops, and more the troops are on the way”, Stoltenberg told reporters during the start of a two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers at alliance headquarters in Brussels.
“If they really start withdrawing forces is something we will welcome… They have always moved forces back And so on just thaton see the movement of forces, of battle tanks, right? confirm a real Withdrawal.”
According to Moscow, several units involved in maneuvers on the black sea peninsula of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed to Ukraine in 2014, have now returned to their bases. The state news the Ria Novosti agency published a video showing a peloton of tanks and others military vehicles traveling in darkness over the Crimean Bridge that connects the peninsula to mainland Russia.
The Department of Defense gave little information on the type of the forces withdraw and how many soldiers were involved.
In a similar announcement on On Tuesday, the ministry said some troops posted south and west military districts – near Ukraine – were drawn back after the end of drills.
the move lifted a glow of I hope the crisis along the Ukrainian border has eased after weeks of intense diplomacy and threats from the West of punitive sanctions should Russia invades.
But the skepticism of that of Moscow intentions remains high. Ukraine, the United States, European powers and NATO have hinted that they cannot catch Russia off guard. face independent value and necessary confirmation.
And other maneuvers that have caused the alarm continues, like Russian military exercises in Belarus, which also borders Ukraine.
“We have not yet verified that Russia military units return to their home basics. Indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain many in a threatening position,” said US President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
The United States said this week that it believed there were 130,000 troops massed near Ukraine and that a attack could take place at any time.
The Kremlin denies everything plans invade Ukraine and says he is in son right to deploy troops anywhere on son territory.
Moreover, it contradicts that in In order to defuse the crisis, the United States and NATO must meet Moscow’s security demands, such as an ironclad promise that the West military the alliance will not extend further east. This proposal has been rotated several times down.
the defense ministers of the 30 NATO countries – including US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin – will discuss plans for additional deterrence against Russia later on Wednesday in Brussels.
NATO allies send more ships, fighter jets and troops to Eastern Europe and putting other soldiers on Be ready.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has designated February 16 as a “day of unity.” President Volodymyr Zelensky said the day before this week after reports in we media cited February 16 as a day when Russia could launch a attack.
