Washington has asked Moscow to explain the “provocations” at the Ukrainian border, State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a briefing.
The diplomat stressed that the United States regards Russia's actions, including the “build-up of forces near the border with Ukraine”, as an escalation. At the same time, he did not answer the question of whether Washington sees a threat in the relocation of the forces of a sovereign state on its own territory.
“Most importantly, we have made it clear directly to our Ukrainian partners, as well as to Russia, that we support Ukraine in the face of this intimidation and aggression,” Price said.
Last week, the White House said that U.S. President Joe Biden, in his first conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Vladimir Zelensky, reaffirmed support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of” ongoing Russian aggression.” The publication Politico, in turn, said that the interlocutors discussed the build-up of Russia's military presence near the borders with Ukraine.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, commenting on the situation, said that Russia is taking the steps on its territory that it considers necessary, and completely ignores the signals from the United States, which have nothing to do with this.
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