Recent developments from Ukraine: “We are on the brink of war”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the gathering of Russian troops close to the Ukrainian border is growing daily, while concerns have increased that this military gathering is preparation for a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has deployed over 100,000 troops on the border with Ukraine, and according to Western intelligence, has held a series of military exercises in the area. Last week, Ukrainian intelligence said the number of troops collected was 127,000.

Kuleba, who spoke during a media conference in Copenhagen on January 27th, said that if Russia since 2014 was annexing the Ukrainian Crimea Peninsula, Kiev would attack this time “against”.

Kuleba's comments came a day after the United States rejected Moscow's request that NATO ban Ukraine's membership in this military alliance, and offered “a serious diplomatic path” for resolving the crisis.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has sent a letter to Russia regarding security requirements and has argued that the West is committed to following the policy of “openers” for states that want to join NATO.

Russia has said it will analyse the US's response, which surrendered in co-ordination with NATO.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis continued in Paris, where advisers of the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany met. Through a statement on January 27th, they said they pledge to respect a previously reached ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Since April 2014, Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukrainian regions battle with separatists backed by Russia.

No concrete results were achieved at the councillors' meeting, but they agreed to meet in Berlin after two weeks. Kuleba said it was a sign that Russia would stay on the diplomatic path at least for a short period of time.

The good news the advisers agreed to meet in Berlin after two weeks, meaning that Russia for the next two weeks will likely stay on diplomatic course”, Kuleba said after meeting with his Danish counterpart, Pelpe Kofod.

Russia denies that there are plans to invade Ukraine, but has said NATO views it as a threat and has demanded that this alliance not expand to the east. NATO has also sent a written response to Russian demands, presenting a set of proposals for diplomatic crisis solutions and calling on Moscow to lower tensions. (Radio Free Europe)