A senior Kremlin official said Thursday that Russia could face circumstances in which it needs it defend its citizens in eastern Ukraine and that military action can be taken, Reuters reported.
The deputy director of the Russian presidential administration, Dmitry Kozak, was quoted as saying:I support the assessment that … the beginning of military action – this would be the beginning of the end of Ukraine. “
The statements came on the same day as the Russian president Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin Night Energy: Progressives Fear Infrastructure Climate Plans Don’t Survive Senate The EPA will propose rules for vehicle emissions by the end of July Poll shows growing partisan divide over climate change Putin plans to go to Biden climate summit: reports on CNN opportunity among journalists arrested while covering Navalny prison MORE accused Ukraine of provocative actions in the eastern region of the country during a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Putin accused Kiev of “igniting the situation there.”
Ukraine announced on Saturday that it would conduct joint military exercises with NATO troops, with more than 1,000 military personnel from five NATO countries. It was not specified when the exercises would be performed.
The Ukrainian parliament issued a statement last week declaring an “escalation” along the front, citing a “significant increase in bombings and armed provocations by the armed forces of the Russian Federation.”