US WARNS RUSSIA AGAINST SENDING TROOPS INTO EASTERN UKRAINE

Russian troops (Press TV file photo) " width="401" height="225" /> Russian troops (Press TV file photo)

Washington, 23 Sya’ban 1435/21 June 2014 (MINA) – The United States says it will not tolerate Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, as tensions between Washington and Moscow escalate over the Ukraine crisis.

The White House said on Friday that the Kremlin had redeployed “significant” military forces near the Ukraine border, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“We are monitoring the situation carefully. We will not accept the use, under any pretext, of any Russian military forces in eastern Ukraine,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.

“Reports from Moscow that the Russian defense ministry is considering creating military cordons in eastern Ukraine are also troubling,” he added.

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According to a Russian defense ministry source, Russian troops were prepared to enter Ukraine’s troubled regions to “put up barriers between the civilian population and the Ukrainian army.”

Meanwhile, Jen Psaki, the spokeswoman of the US State Department, said on Friday, “We have our own information that Russia has redeployed military forces to its border with Ukraine.”

“This is the closest Russian troops have come to the Ukrainian territory since their invasion of Crimea,” she added.

The United States and Russia are at loggerheads over Crimea, with Washington accusing Moscow of orchestrating an “illegitimate referendum to annex Crimea” and fuelling unrest in eastern Ukraine.

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The Autonomous Republic of Crimea declared independence from Ukraine on March 17 and formally applied to become part of Russia following a referendum a day earlier, in which nearly 97 percent of the participants voted in favor of the move. On March 21, Crimea officially became part of the Russian territory.

On April 17, Russia, Ukraine, the US and the European Union agreed over steps to “de-escalate” the crisis in eastern Ukraine, where anti-Kiev protesters seized buildings in several towns and cities.

But, Ukrainian authorities have ordered military operations against pro-Russian protesters in both eastern and southern Ukraine, claiming that Russian special forces are fueling unrest in the country.

Moscow has dismissed as “nonsense” claims that Russian special forces are fomenting unrest in Ukraine. (T/E01/IR)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)