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White House: Russian forces may want to move into Ukraine

Iran Press TV

Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:14PM GMT

The administration of US President Barack Obama has expressed "deep concern" about a reported Russian military buildup near the Ukrainian border, saying Moscow may want to invade Ukraine.

"It's deeply concerning to see the Russian troop buildup on the border, "said President Obama's deputy national security adviser, Tony Blinken.

He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be preparing for further action.

"It creates the potential for incidents, for instability. It's likely that what they're trying to do is intimidate the Ukrainians. It's possible that they're preparing to move in," Blinken added.

He made the remarks after NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe voiced alarm that a "very, very sizeable and very, very ready" may want to pose a threat to Moldova's separatist Trans-Dniester region.

'There is absolutely sufficient force postured on the eastern border of Ukraine to run to Trans-Dniester if the decision was made to do that. That is very worrisome,' said US Air Force General Philip Breedlove, NATO's top commander in Europe.

This as Ukraine's acting foreign minister warned of "growing" chances of an all-out war between Kiev and Moscow.

"The situation is becoming even more explosive than it was a week ago," Andriy Deshchytsia told ABC News.

Deshchytsia, however, added that his government is "ready to respond".

"At this moment, when Russian troops would be invading the eastern region it would be difficult for us to ask people who live there not to respond on this military invasion".

The Russian ambassador to the EU has said his country has no plans for invading other nations and is complying with its international agreements.

Anatoly Antonov, Russian deputy defense minister also said on Sunday that 'the Russian defense ministry is in compliance with all international agreements limiting the number of troops in the border areas with Ukraine.'

The biggest crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War was triggered over the situation in Ukraine. Russia accuses Western countries of helping Ukrainian pro-Western political forces to topple a pro-Russian government in the country last month.

DT/DT