The European Union (EU) on Thursday accused Moscow of violating international law by launching “yet another conscription campaign” in Russian-occupied Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to draft residents into the country’s armed forces. Condemning its aggression in the region, the bloc stressed that Russia was obligated to protect human rights on the peninsula and reiterated that it “does not and will not recognise the illegal annexation” of Crimea.
The strongly-worded statement from the EU came on the same day that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba denounced Moscow for trying to exert pressure on Kyiv by building up troops along their shared border. Ukrainian defence officials said earlier this week that as many as twenty-eight battalion tactical groups of the Russian army were stationed along the border under the guise of preparing for exercises, and noted that their presence posed a threat to Ukraine’s military security.
Zelensky said on Thursday that it would routine for Russia to engage in “muscle-flexing” to try and create an “atmosphere of threat and pressure” as Ukraine tries to resume ceasefire negotiations. However, the leader noted that Kyiv was “always prepared for any kind of provocations.” Meanwhile, FM Kuleba called on Russia to “immediately and unconditionally reaffirm its commitment to political-diplomatic means of resolving the conflict and recommit to a ceasefire.”
The United States (US) also expressed its concerns about the increase in tensions and ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine on Thursday and said that it was discussing the matter with Ukrainian authorities as well as its NATO allies. US secretaries of defence and state, along with national security advisor Jake Sullivan, have all held talks with their respective counterparts about the situation in recent days, condemning Moscow’s aggression in the region and reaffirming the US’ “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The conflict near the Russian border between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatist fighters in the Donbas region has claimed over 14,000 lives since 2014, following Moscow’s unilateral annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. The international community has since blamed Russia for prohibiting any progress towards a solution to the conflict due to its aggressive posture and presence of forces in the area. Moscow, for its part, has rejected the claims and has instead blamed Ukraine for using disproportionate force against civilians in the region, and accused Western powers of being “accomplices” in Kyiv’s crimes in the area.
Responding to questions about troop and military equipment movement near Russia’s borders with Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Thursday that those were defensive in nature and did not pose a threat to anyone. Government spokesman Dmitry Peskov additionally noted that Russia moved its troops within its own borders whenever it saw fit. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that any attempts to start a new conflict over Donbas could “destroy Ukraine.”
EU, US Condemn Mounting Russian Aggression in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine
Ukrainian defence officials said earlier this week that as many as 28 battalion tactical groups of the Russian army were stationed along the border under the guise of preparing for exercises.
April 2, 2021
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky SOURCE: SERGEY DOLZHENKO/POOL/AFP/GETTY IMAGES via FOREIGN POLICY