The United States warned earlier today that it would not accept any use of Russian troops in Ukraine as it confirmed that Moscow had redeployed “significant” military forces near the border.
“We are monitoring the situation carefully. We will not accept the use, under any pretext, of any Russian military forces in eastern Ukraine,” said Josh Earnest, a White House spokesman.
“Reports from Moscow that the Russian defense ministry is considering creating military cordons in eastern Ukraine are also troubling.
“A Russian defense ministry source told RBK news agency this week that troops were prepared to enter Ukraine´s insurgent regions in order to “put up barriers between the civilian population and the Ukrainian army.
“Ukrainian officials have separately told EU and G7 teams in Kiev that they have evidence of 10 additional tanks and sealed trucks coming over the border close to Lugansk in the past 24 hours.
“We have our own information that Russia has redeployed military forces to its border with Ukraine,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.
“This is the closest Russian troops have come to the Ukrainian territory since their invasion of Crimea.
