UKRAINE’S EFFORTS TO SEEK EXPLANATION FOR BUILD-UP ON BORDER

Ukraine seeks out discussion with Russia and several other members of European security group over build-up of Russian troops at its border.

According to Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukraine Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russia has ignored formal requests to explain the build-up of its troops.

He stated that the next step would be to seek a meeting with Russia to get answers as regards the build-up of forces at Ukraine’s border.

With the US predicting that Moscow could begin aerial bombardments at any time, several countries have followed the US in warning their citizens to leave Russia in presence of the escalating tensions.

Russia denied any plans to invade Ukraine despite placing about 100,000 soldiers at the Ukrainian border and contends that its actions are its own concern, within its own territory. On Sunday, senior foreign policy official Yuri Ushakov claimed that the US’s reaction to the situation can be likened to hysteria.

Ukraine also made a request to Russia via the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) – of which Russia belongs, which under the Vienna Document, has the power to request information on its members military movement.

Kuleba says; “If Russia is serious when it talks about the indivisibility of security in the OSCE space, it must fulfil its commitment to military transparency in order to de-escalate tensions and enhance security for all.”

Ukraine’s Ambassador in London, Vadym Prystaiko, stated in an interview that Ukraine had a constitutional commitment to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and it would be left to the readiness of NATO whether Ukraine would be admitted.

British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey declared that Britain was ready to support Ukraine regardless of what it decided to do.