According to the United States, the buildup of Russian troops is the largest since World War II
Written byTimes Magazine
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he saw a "deteriorating situation" in eastern Ukraine.
Putin made baseless accusations of "mass and systematic human rights violations" and "discrimination against the Russian-speaking population" in Ukraine at a press conference in the Kremlin.
He urged the Kyiv authorities to start talks with separatist leaders. The 69-year-old told reporters he remained ready to discuss the Ukraine crisis with Western leaders but accused them of ignoring Russia's security concerns and warned that any deal must include a legally binding promise for NATO to halt its eastward expansion.
He also dismissed the possibility of Western sanctions, saying the United States and its allies would always find reasons to impose financial sanctions on his regime.
The intervention comes as the United States accuses Russia of stationing some 190,000 troops on its eastern border with Ukraine. The region's leader said that people in the rebel-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine are being evacuated to Russia.
On social media, Denis Pushilin, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), announced that Russia had agreed to provide shelter for those who left. The United States also its allies have expressed concern that growing violence in the Donbas. Region could be part of Russia's pretext for an invasion of Ukraine.
Russia, which denies planning attacks, expressed concern earlier today about increased shelling in the region.
The outside world does not recognize DNR. The buildup of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border is "the most significant military mobilization in Europe since World War II," said the US delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
"Rather than ensuring transparency and committing to risk reduction, Russia has chosen to provide misinformation and is committed to denial and deception," Michael Carpenter said, adding that there are now 169,000 to 190,000 Russian troops "in and around Ukraine."
Trending News
