Russian troops remain at bases, according to NATO (Photo: Russian Defense Ministry)
Allies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have accused Russia of deceiving the world and spreading “propaganda”, claiming that a portion of its forces are returning to permanent bases, and in fact in the troubled border region. An additional 7,000 soldiers have been deployed. Ukraine,
Tensions rose on Thursday on the line separating Ukrainian forces from Moscow-backed separatists in the country’s south amid fears that Russia would invade the neighboring country, with parties accusing both sides of bombing.
After a series of positive Russian signals lowering crisis temperatures several days ago, the pendulum appears to be swinging in the opposite direction again. With more than 150,000 troops stationed a few kilometers from the Ukrainian border, the Kremlin has called for a diplomatic solution, a gesture welcomed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, even as he and others criticized Russian troops. Warns of no clear signs of withdrawal.
Britain’s Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said before a NATO meeting in Brussels, “We have seen the opposite of some of the announcements. We have seen an increase in the number of troops to 7,000 in the last 48 hours.” What a US official said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, British Armed Forces Minister James Happy called the allegations of the troop withdrawal “malicious”.
Moscow has claimed several times this week that some forces are retreating to their bases, but provided virtually no details that would require an independent assessment of the size and direction of the military movement, raising suspicion among Western leaders. will allow.
On Thursday, NATO allies again criticized Russia’s statements and warned that they were ready to respond to any aggression.
“The consequences of this collective grouping – about 60% of Russia’s land forces on the border of a sovereign country – will have the opposite effect,” Wallace warned.
