Ukraine in Arabic | Pentagon: Russian army is on Ukrainian border
KYIV/Ukraine in Arabic/ The U.S. Department of Defense has evidence of the deployment of Russian combat units in close proximity to the border with Ukraine, which have been put on high combat alert.
Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said this on Friday.
"What we do see is a continued presence of significantly capable and ready Russian battalion tactical groups right across that border. And they are close. And they are very capable," he said.
He also said that the U.S. side did not yet have "any independent operational reporting that would be able to confirm that report that these [Russian] formations have crossed the border.
Kirby said that the deployment of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine did not help "decrease the tension" in the region.
At the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that there are no Russian troops in Ukraine.
Lavrov said that U.S. Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki had admitted earlier that Washington had no evidence indicating Russian military presence in Ukraine.
In addition, according to him, it turned out that Russia "is not directly involved in the implementation of the ceasefire agreements between the Ukrainian government forces and the militias" despite the Minsk agreements that it earlier signed.
"The ceasefire agreement was signed between the militias and the government, and it's they who should complete the demarcation of a separating line, which is being done right now," Lavrov said.
