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EU has ‘severe concern’ over Russian activity near Ukraine


Bangladeshpost
Published : 05 Apr 2021 06:54 PM

European Union foreign policy chiefJosep Borrell on Sunday pledged the bloc’s “unwavering” support for Kiev ashe expressed major worries over Russian troop movements around Ukraine, reports AFP. 

“Following with severe concern the Russian military activity surroundingUkraine,” Borrell tweeted after a phone call with Ukrainian Foreign MinisterDmytro Kuleba. “Unwavering EU support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorialintegrity.”

Borrell said he would hold further talks on the issue with Kiev’s topdiplomat and foreign ministers from the EU’s 27 nations at a meeting laterthis month.

Ukraine this week accused Russia of massing thousands of military personnelon its northern and eastern borders as well as on the Crimean peninsulaannexed by Moscow in 2014. The Kremlin did not deny the recent troop movements, but insisted thatMoscow was “not threatening anyone”.

The reports of a buildup have swirled amid an escalation of armed clashesalong the front line between Ukraine’s forces and Russian-backed separatistsin the east of the country.

The long-simmering conflict has claimed more than 13,000 lives since 2014,according to the United Nations.

Western leaders — including new US President Joe Biden — have said theyare standing by Ukraine.