Secretary of State Antony Blinken gives a press conference at the end of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on March 24, 2021
Olivier Hoslet | Reuters
WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday he was concerned about the number of Russian troops piling up on the Ukrainian border and warned Moscow that “there will be consequences” for aggressive behavior.
“I have to tell you that I have real concerns about Russia’s actions on Ukraine’s borders. There are more massed Russian forces on those borders than at any time since 2014, when Russia invaded,” Blinken said during a interview on “Meet the Press” “Sunday.
“President Biden has made it very clear. If Russia acts recklessly or aggressively, there will be costs, there will be consequences,” said Blinken, who added that the United States was discussing border aggression with allies and partners.
On Friday, Blinken spoke in part with his German and French counterparts about “Russian provocations against Ukraine.”
Last week, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration was consulting with NATO allies on rising tensions and ceasefire violations.
“The United States is increasingly concerned about the recent escalation of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, including the movements of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border,” he told reporters Thursday, describing the matter of “deeply troubling.”
Read more: US worries over Russian troop movements near Ukraine, discussing regional tensions with NATO allies
In recent weeks, Moscow has increased its military presence along the Ukrainian border, causing concerns in the West of an incipient military conflict between the two neighboring countries. The Russian Defense Ministry has said it is conducting more than 4,000 military drills this month to inspect the availability of its forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visits armed forces positions near the front line with Russian-backed separatists during his working trip to the Donbass region of Ukraine on April 8, 2021.
Ukrainian Presidential Press Service Brochure | via Reuters
Last month, the Ukrainian government said four of its soldiers were killed by Russian bombings in Donbass. Moscow has denied having any strength in eastern Ukraine. Since 2014, Kiev has been fighting Russia-backed separatists in a conflict that has left at least 13,000 people dead, according to UN data.
Read more: The West is waiting for Putin’s next step as tensions between Russia and Ukraine increase
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Moscow would move its forces through Russian territory at its discretion and called the rising tensions “unprecedented.” He also suggested that Ukraine was on the brink of civil war, which would jeopardize Russia’s security.
“The Kremlin is afraid that a civil war may resume in Ukraine. And if a civil war is resumed, a large-scale military action near our borders, which would endanger the security of the Russian Federation,” Peskov said , according to the Associated Press. “The continued escalation of tensions is unprecedented.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of resuming “dangerous provocative actions” in a call on Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a Kremlin reading. The Kremlin has previously said it is concerned about rising tensions in eastern Ukraine and feared Kiev forces would try to restart a conflict.
Last week, the Pentagon reiterated its calls for the Kremlin to explain its decision to mobilize troops at the border.
“The Russians are involved in carrying out a military build-up along the eastern border of Ukraine and Crimea, which still belongs to Ukraine, and that worries us. we believe it is conducive to security and stability there, “Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Friday.
Later this week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will meet in person with NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.