A column of T-72B3 tanks during a military exercise. File photoWASHINGTON, Jan 19 The Russian embassy in Washington rejected the US administration's claims that Russia is preparing to escalate the situation around Ukraine: it is the right of any state to move troops across its territory.
" ; High-ranking officials of the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon in unison announced the absence of de-escalation steps on the Russian-Ukrainian border. Moreover, they argued that our country could invade a neighboring state at any moment, including from the territory of Belarus. We emphasize once again: Russia is not going to attack anyone,» the statement posted on the diplomatic mission's Facebook page reads.
«The practice of moving troops on our own soil is our sovereign right,» the embassy reminded. The State Department said Belarus could play a role in Russia's alleged escalation plans around Ukraine. At the same time, he did not provide any evidence for his claims. Russia has repeatedly rejected the accusations of the West and Ukraine of «aggressive actions», stating that it does not threaten anyone and is not going to attack anyone, and statements about «Russian aggression» are used as a pretext to deploy more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry previously noted that Western statements about «Russian aggression» and the ability to help Kiev defend itself against it are both ridiculous and dangerous. >Embassy in the United States urged the West not to push Kiev to provocations