US and EU Concerned Over Russian Troop Movements Near Ukraine Border

US Secretary of State said it would be "a serious mistake for Russia to try to repeat what it did in 2014."

The United States and the European Union have expressed concern over unusual movements of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border. Here is the latest news on this topic.

US Warnings

The US has told its European Union allies that Russia may be considering invading Ukraine, given rising tensions over migrants and problems with energy supplies.

Bloomberg reports that Washington is closely monitoring the buildup of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border, and that American officials have informed their EU counterparts of their concerns about a possible military operation.

The US warning on Ukraine is reportedly linked to the standoff between Poland and Belarus. It also comes amid uncertainty over Russian gas supplies to Europe, despite a promise by Russian President Vladimir Putin to increase them this week in order to ease the energy crisis.

Putin is insisting that European regulators quickly approve the operation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, which Ukraine and the US oppose due to the threat to European security.

A source close to the Kremlin told the outlet that Russia allegedly does not intend to start a war with Ukraine, but "must show that it is ready to use force if necessary".

What Blinken and the EU Spokesperson Say

Antony Blinken
US Secretary of State

We are very concerned about certain unusual force movements that we are seeing on the border with Ukraine.

On November 12, Blinken answered press questions about reports of Russia building up troops near the border with Ukraine. He said: "We do not know what Russia's intentions are."

The US Secretary of State recalled that "there have been cases where Russia builds up forces on the borders with Ukraine, claims some kind of provocation by Ukraine, and then carries out an invasion." According to him, it would be "a serious mistake for Russia to try to repeat what it did in 2014."

Blinken made a similar statement earlier this week after a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Washington. He said that any actions aimed at escalation or aggressive actions would cause concern in the US.

The EU has also voiced concern over Russia's actions. EU foreign policy spokesperson Peter Stano told the press that the European Union is concerned about Russia's military activity near the border with Ukraine.

"We continue to monitor the situation, and the information we have received causes some concern," Stano noted.