Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky convicted Moscow on Thursday of assembling troops on the country’s border, as the US warned Russia.
Since 2014, Ukraine has been at odds with Russian-backed separatists. The Russian army movement in the annexed Crimea as well as on the border near Moscow-controlled separatists was reported by Ukrainian officials.
On Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky met with Western allies, including Lloyd Austin, to analyze the growing security situation.
According to reports, it is speculated that the building of camps by Russian troops is a test of the newly elected President of United States Joe Biden, who accused Russian President Vladimir Putin by calling him a killer last month.
US military officials have made phone calls to both parties in an initiative to de-escalate the tense situation.
The US increased the alert level of American troops stationed in Europe to its highest level and confirmed that they are closely monitoring the situation.
Russia’s motive behind Deploying Troops
Russia’s main fear was that NATO will try to influence Ukraine after the Cold War and gradually Ukraine will join the EU and NATO.
That will render Russia unprotected forever in a sudden NATO attack.
Over this issue, Russia warned it will not hesitate to take extra measures if NATO sends forces to help Ukraine.
The history between Russia and Ukraine
Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union until 1991 when it disintegrated and then became an independent nation.
For a Decade both nations remained closely tied, but later Ukraine gradually began to deeper ties with the Western nations.
The open conflict was caused by the Ukrainian Revolution in 2014 when an uprising dismissed Viktor Yanukovych’s pro-Russian government.
Over which the Russian government lead by Vladimir Putin reacted by annexing the region of Crimea from Ukraine, a move which was widely condemned by the Western countries.
Ukraine was divided into anti-Russian groups and pro-Russian groups, with the latter residing in Eastern Ukraine who then took up arms against the state.
Russia supported these separatist movements, which later proved disastrous for Ukraine, facilitating Russian military incursions in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
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