Peskov: We observe ‘not small-scale’ troop mobility near Donetsk and Lugansk

Large-scale troop movements are observed in Ukraine near the territories of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), which only escalates tensions in the region, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peshko said on Monday.

Commenting on Ukraine’s request for a meeting with Russia and other signatories to the Vienna Document to clarify the situation surrounding the movements of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border, the Kremlin spokesman reiterated that “Russian troops are moving to territory of Russia “.

But, in his words, “no smaller-scale movements of Ukrainian troops are observed in the border areas on the territory of Ukraine, in the zone bordering the self-proclaimed democracies.” “Of course, this only adds to the existing tension,” he said, adding that this was all he had to say about the subject of the requested meeting.

On February 11, Kiev asked Russia to provide an explanation within 48 hours of its “military activities” in areas adjacent to Ukraine’s borders, including Crimea. The Ukrainian foreign minister then warned that in the event that Kiev did not receive a response from Russia, it would ask Russia and other member states of the Vienna Document to convene an emergency meeting on the issue. On February 13, Kuleba said Ukraine had requested such a meeting.

The Vienna Document, adopted by the OSCE in 2011, provides for measures to build security and trust between states. It provides for specific relations procedures between the military of the OSCE member states.

The West and Kiev fear a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov denounced the allegations as “empty and unfounded” and as a ploy to escalate tensions, saying Russia posed no threat to anyone.