Tensions rise over Russian border build-up
The Hindu
Why is Russia building up its military along the borders of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine? How has the NATO reacted?
Russia has been building up its military forces close to the Ukrainian border. According to Ukrainian officials and those in Western nations , Moscow has amassed more than 92,000 troops around 300 km from the Russian border with the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. This territory is a conflict zone where Ukraine has been battling Russia-backed separatists. While Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of preparing for an invasion, Russia has, in turn, accused the West of ‘anti-Russia’ hysteria. With tensions escalating, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned on Wednesday that Washington will be “prepared to act” if Russia invades Ukraine. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Blinken were scheduled to hold talks on December 2 on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Stockholm.
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