Concerns grow over Russian military building on Ukraine border.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Brussels again this week to meet with NATO and European Union leaders. Ukrainian officials will also join them for discussions about the “ongoing build-up of Russian military forces on Ukraine’s borders,” according to joint statements.
“There are more Russian forces massed on those borders than at any time since 2014, when Russia first invaded Ukraine,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker, who leads the State Department’s European affairs bureau.
Russian forces might need “to take care of the interests of Russian speakers” in eastern Ukraine, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin suggested in recent days after insisting earlier in the month that the movement of Russian troops along the western edge of the country was of no concern to Kiev. His rhetoric only increases suspicions that Russian forces might pour over the border on false pretenses, just like the 2014 invasion.
“At the same time, Russia has had a disinformation campaign blatantly designed to falsely blame Ukraine for what are the Kremlin’s own actions. We call on Russia to cease its provocations and to immediately de-escalate tensions in line with its international obligations,” Acting Assistant Secretary Reeker said.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Blinken and the contingent traveling with him as they meet with Ukrainian and NATO allies.
- For U.S. and allied officials as they address Russia’s activities in the region.
- For wisdom for U.S. diplomats as they engaged foreign leaders from adversarial nations.
Sources: Washington Examiner, Radio Free Europe
