2015-04-23 12:40:00

US Says Russia Deploying Missile In Eastern Ukraine


(Vatican Radio) The United States says Russia is deploying more air defence systems in eastern Ukraine in breach of a European-brokered ceasefire deal. America's State Department also accuses Russia of training pro-Russian separatists in the area and building up its forces along the border.

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State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf says Russia is involved in moving "the highest amount of Russian air defense equipment in eastern Ukraine since August." Additionally Harf says she has "no doubt"that Russia is involved in increasingly complex training exercises with pro-Russian separatists. 

She cites Russian unmanned aerial vehicles as an example of what she calls "an unmistakable sign of Russian presence" in eastern Ukrainian and warns that Russia i increasing its troops near the Ukrainian border.

Russia has denied Western allegations that it supports pro-Russian separatists with weapons and troops. However Moscow has admitted that the rebels receive support from what it calls "Russian volunteers". 

AMERICAN TROOPS 

The latest stand-off comes after the United States send nearly 300 troops to train Ukrainian forces, a move Moscow says could "seriously destabilize the situation" in the country. 

Yet, spokeswoman Harf denies that the U.S. military actions in the region contribute to unnecessary  tensions with Russia. "It is really is part of our ongoing effort to help Ukraine sustain its defense and internal defense operations," she said recently. 

"We did this under [Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor] Yanukovych and we did it for some 20 years at this point," Harf added. "Obviously there is the reality of the situation in eastern Ukraine. So this ís part of our ongoing efforts, but ofcourse we are all aware of the situation there," she explained. 

Fighting has increased in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks, though Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday he believed a surge in ceasefire violations in east Ukraine had passed. 

The UN says at least 6,116 people have been killed since the fighting began in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions last April, shortly after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.         








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