Ukraine calls on its allies to act quickly in the face of the Russian military build-up near its borders

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kolbia called on his country's allies to expedite action to confront the Russian military build-up on the Ukrainian border, at a time when the foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (NATO) discussed on Tuesday Moscow's military moves near its border with Ukraine.

"It is better to act now and not later" in order to "rein in Russia," the Ukrainian foreign minister said at a press conference on Monday, adding that Russia has mobilized 115,000 soldiers on its borders with Ukraine and on Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. And in the Ukrainian regions under the control of separatists in the east of the country.

"What we see is very dangerous. Russia has deployed a large military force near the Ukrainian border, including tanks, artillery systems, electronic warfare systems, air and naval forces," the Ukrainian official said, adding that this military deployment enables Moscow to launch an attack on Ukraine "in the blink of an eye."

Kuleba stressed that his country would respond in the event of a Russian attack on it, saying that his country's army had become "incomparably stronger than it was in 2014," referring to the year in which Russia annexed the Crimea.

On November 21, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Kirilu Budanov, said that Russia plans to launch an attack on his country by the end of January or the beginning of February.

Ukrainian tanks take part in exercises earlier this month near the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia (Reuters)

In recent weeks, the United States, NATO, and the European Union have continued to express their concerns about Russian troop movements on Ukraine's borders, fearing a possible invasion.

Russia has repeatedly denied having any plan in this direction, accusing Kiev and its Western allies of increasing their provocations.

Since 2014, the Ukrainian east has witnessed a war between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists, which erupted shortly after Moscow annexed the Crimea, and the war has killed more than 13,000 people.

NATO

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister's warning came a day before an upcoming meeting of foreign ministers of NATO countries in the Latvian capital of Riga, and at the top of the meeting's agenda was a discussion of the military activities carried out by Moscow in Crimea and on its western border with Ukraine.

Anadolu Agency reported that the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Georgia will attend the meeting on an exceptional basis, given that their countries are not members of NATO.

On Sunday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg renewed his call on Moscow to reduce the escalation near the Ukrainian border, warning of the costs and consequences if Moscow launched an attack on its neighbor. great for many reasons,” the most prominent of which is “it is unjustified and unjustified.”

In Washington, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby announced in a press conference that the movements of Russian forces on the border with Ukraine are "a constant source of concern and Russia continues to send reinforcements," and while Kirby confirmed that his country would support Ukrainian forces, he ruled out the possibility of military intervention. American direct.

Russia exile

On the other hand, Moscow rejects accusations by Kiev and Western countries that it is preparing for an imminent attack on Ukraine, saying that it can move Russian forces on its territory at will. basis for it."

In a related context, yesterday, Monday, Ukraine welcomed any friendly effort to end the crisis with Russia, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered yesterday to mediate between Kiev and Moscow. Putin, we want, God willing, to have a role in resolving this."