"We asked Russia to provide explanations in connection with these provocations ... However, most importantly, we made it clear directly to our Ukrainian partners, as well as Russia, that we support Ukraine in the face of this intimidation and aggression," RIA Novosti quoted as saying Price.

He noted that the United States regards Russia's actions, including the "build-up of forces near the border with Ukraine," as an escalation.

Earlier, the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov said that Russia does not pose a threat to any country in the world, including Ukraine, while noting that the country is always very attentive to its own security.

Thus, he responded to a request to comment on reports that allegedly Russian military units are moving around the Rostov region with sealed numbers.

Peskov added that "the Russian army moves on Russian territory in those directions in which it considers it necessary, in the form in which it considers it necessary to ensure the country's security."