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Is Russia moving towards war with Ukraine?
Russia is amassing troops and weaponry near Ukraine’s eastern border, a move some say is a strategic show of force.
International
Kyiv, Ukraine – Russia denies it wants war.
Asked why it amassed 40,000 troops, armoured personnel carriers, tanks and artillery near Ukraine’s eastern border and another 40,000 servicemen in annexed Crimea in recent weeks, Moscow “refused to provide substantial information”, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
A day earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Nobody is planning to move towards the war.”
However, he added a veiled threat.
“But Russia has always said that it won’t remain indifferent to the fate of Russian-speakers in southeastern Ukraine,” he said, referring to the population of Donetsk and Luhansk, where pro-Russian separatists took up arms against the central government in 2014 and carved out two “People’s Republics”.
Even though other Russian officials claim the buildup is preparation for ordinary drills, there is mounting evidence of Moscow’s preparations for war.