Moscow also accuses nato of fanning tensions by flying reconnaissance planes
near russia's borders. Ukraine has accused russia of boosting supplies of
weapons, ammunition and military equipment to separatist regions in Ukraine
while actively recruiting mercenaries to fight in the ongoing conflict.
The claims by Kiev's military intelligence service on friday came as United
States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov met in geneva, the latest attempt at diplomacy aimed at easing
fears of a russian invasion.
The agency said Moscow continues to increase the combat capabilities of
pro-russian separatists and since the start of this month, has secretly
transferred by rail and road more than 7000 tons of fuel, several tanks and
self-propelled artillery units to the regions.
It said russia was also undertaking active recruitment of mercenaries who
are being sent to separatist controlled regions. The neighbors have been
locked in the separatist conflict in ukraine's eastern regions particularly
in donetsk and luhansk, since april 2014. The fighting began after mass
protests prompted ukraine's then moscow friendly leader to flee to Russia.
Kiev says at least 14,000 people have been killed in eight years of violence
and along with its western allies blames the bloodshed on russian sent
fighters and weapons.
Meanwhile legislators in russia's parliament on friday put forward a bill
that would ask president Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of
pro-moscow separatist regions in Donetsk and Luhansk.
Lower House speaker Vyacheslav Voladin said such a move which is all but
assured to enrage ukraine and prompt western condemnation would be a
solution to provide for the security of our citizens and countrymen in the
two regions.
The latest machinations come as ukrainian and western concerns over a
week-long build-up of 100,000 russian soldiers along the ukrainian border
reach a fever pitch.
Last week US and Ukrainian officials said russian influence actors had
already begun a false flag operation meant to fabricate ukrainian
provocations and justify a russian intervention. Moscow has denied planning
an attack but has said it could take unspecified military action if its
demands are not met.
The demands include a permanent prohibition on ukrainian membership in nato,
which the US and its European Allies have already rejected and the removal
of most US and Allied military presence in Eastern Europe.
Before meeting Lavrov on friday, Blinken met ukrainian president Vladimir
Zelinski in Kiev and top diplomats from Britain, France and Germany and
berlin where he stressed the US unity with its allies. That came after
President Joe Biden on wednesday drew widespread criticism including from
Zelinski for saying retaliation for russian aggression in ukraine would
depend on the details while suggesting that a minor incursion would spark an
internal fight between nato allies on how to proceed.
Zielinski responded on twitter, we want to remind the great powers that
there are no minor incursions and small nations. Just as there are no minor
casualties and little grief from the loss of loved ones.
Biden later clarified that any assembled russian units moving across the
ukrainian border would be considered an invasion.
Speaking on friday, lavrov said it was premature to start talking about a
summit between presidents biden and putin but that another meeting with
Blinken in the near future was possible. Lavrov called the talks
constructive and useful and said washington had agreed to provide a written
response next week which would show whether we are on the right path or not.
Meanwhile, two F-35 fighters will be sent to the border with Ukraine. The
netherlands decided to send two F-35 fighter jets to the ukrainian border.
The latter will be deployed at an air base in romania and as follows from
the data presented, they will participate in the air policing mission,
however judging by the region where these combat aircraft are
deployed.
The latter may try to carry out provocations and test russian air defense
systems by approaching the russian borders from the black sea or even from
the airspace of ukraine.
At the moment it is known that the netherlands originally planned to send
F-16 fighters to patrol the airspace over the black sea, however at the last
moment they changed their mind, choosing F-35 fighters.
The deployment of the latter on the territory of romania will take place in
april of this year and although combat aircraft do not pose any significant
danger, experts are paying attention to clearly preparing provocations near
the russian borders, especially against the background of the crisis in
relations between russia and NATO. Taking into account the duration of the
nato air policing mission, the dutch air force F-35 fighters will be in
romania for two months.
