US Warns Of Russian Provocation After Ukraine Shelling Reports
NDTV
"We've said for some time that the Russians might do something like this in order to justify a military conflict," says US Defense Secretary.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Thursday that Russia could be looking to create a pretext for invasion after "troubling" reports of shelling on Ukraine's frontline with Moscow-backed separatists.
"We've said for some time that the Russians might do something like this in order to justify a military conflict. So we'll be watching this very closely," Austin told journalists after a meeting with NATO defence ministers.
Austin said Moscow had kept building up its forces and combat readiness along Ukraine's border despite the Kremlin saying it was pulling back troops.
Russia has repeatedly denied it is planning an invasion of Ukraine.
