Kiev
Ukraine has denied reports of a Russian military build-up near its eastern border that raised fears of a new escalation in fighting with pro-Moscow separatists.
Social media videos in recent days showed Russian military trains and truck convoys moving tanks and missiles in the country’s southwest near the Ukrainian border.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday that Washington was monitoring the situation and The Washington Post quoted US officials saying they were concerned.
But Ukraine’s defence ministry said in a statement late Monday that “no additional deployment” of Russian forces had been observed near the border.
It said the published videos could be an “element of special informational and psychological actions” and showed a planned movement of troops after a Russian military exercise.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday he had discussed the conflict with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.
“The US continues to support territorial integrity and reforms in Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter.—APP
