The US is “very concerned” about Russia’s actions in Ukraine

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Saturday that USA is “very concerned” by the actions and statements of Russia in Ukraine where tensions are growing.

“We are very concerned about the unusual military activities of Russia on the border with Ukraine. We are truly concerned about some expressions that we have seen and heard from Russia and on social media, ”Blinken told reporters in Dakar, where he is on the last leg of his African tour.

Blinken said his concern is “widely shared” by US allies, but did not address whether US intelligence believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to seize Ukrainian territory.

“We do not know what the intentions of President Putin are. But we know what happened in the past. We know the strategy of citing illusory provocations from Ukraine or another country and using them as an excuse for Russia’s plans, ”Blinken said.

He was referring to the crisis that occurred in 2014 when Russia, following the overthrow of the pro-Western Ukrainian government, seized the Crimean peninsula.

The Donbass region (eastern Ukraine) has been the scene since 2014 of a war that caused more than 13,000 deaths between Kiev forces and pro-Russian separatists, who are considered to be militarily sponsored by the Kremlin, despite denying it.

Putin on Wednesday accused Western nations of increasing the intensity of the conflict in Ukraine by supporting maneuvers in the Black Sea and dropping bombs near its borders.

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