Tensions high: Russia again threatens Ukraine

Following Ukraine's allegations that Russia has stepped up the presence of its troops on the common border, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that any attempts at the new “ <x1nd> in eastern Ukraine would end with the destruction of that country.

The threat comes at a time when Moscow and Kiev blame each other for increasing violence in eastern Ukraine, where the conflict between government forces and pro-Russian separatists continues since 2014.

Kiev claims separatists “are constantly violating the ceasefire” agreed on in July and blames Russia for increasing military presence on their common border. The Kremlin rejects this charge.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said he has talked to the Association for Security and Co-operation Secretary-General in Europe (OSBE), Helga Schmidt, “to exacerbate the security situation in eastern Ukraine and to Crime”.

Lavrov said the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has said late that those trying to launch a new war east of Ukraine, “will destroy this country.

Putin's statement remains current today, Lavrov said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia “is moving troops inside its territory” and that “this should not bother anyone”.

“We must guard in the face of intense NATO troops activity on the perimeter of Russia's”, Peskov said.

Following Lavrov and Peskov's statements, US State Department spokesman Ned Price warned Moscow against “intimidation” of Ukraine.

“We are absolutely concerned with the recent escalation of aggressive and provocative Russian actions to the east of Ukraine”, Price told reporters.

“We oppose aggressive actions aimed at frightening and threatening our partner”, he added.

Russia, which strongly annexed the Ukrainian Crime Peninsula in 2014, has consistently denied involvement in fighting in eastern Ukraine, despite evidence of the contrary.

The conflict in the Luhansk and Donjeck regions has left more than 13,000 people dead.

The OSCE mission in Ukraine reported on hundreds of violations of the ceasefire there in recent days.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that Russia's <x0 operations undermine the goals of calm achieved through the O-brokered agreement. The SEU's ceasefire, in July of last year”

The Ukrainian Army has said on March 26th that four of its soldiers were killed and two others were injured in the Donjeck bombings. According to her, the total number of killed Ukrainian soldiers since December has reached 19.

Ukrainian Army Chief of General Staff Ruslan Khomchak has said Moscow is increasing military presence at the border “under the mask of preparation for strategic exercises”.

“We are preparing for all possible provocations and reactions to the actions of enemy”, Khomchak said.

He made these statements in a speech to the Ukraine Parliament on March 30th.

Comments have prompted Putin's reaction, which has blamed Ukraine for tensions and has called on Kiev to engage in direct dialogue with local separatist forces. / REL