US vows support for Ukraine amid reported Russia troop build-up
- US troops in Europe were on an elevated ‘watch condition’ as top Pentagon general Mark Milley called counterparts in Moscow and Kiev
- Reports suggested that Russia had located more military forces in eastern Ukraine and also moved more into Crimea
US troops in Europe were on an elevated “watch condition” as Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley spoke to General Valery Gerasimov, the Russian Armed Forces chief of staff, and Ukraine armed forces Commander in Chief Ruslan Khomchak.
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called the head of Ukraine Presidential Office Andriy Yermak to reiterate Washington’s support for the country.
“We’re concerned about recent escalations of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, including violations of the July 2020 ceasefire that led to the deaths of 4 Ukrainian soldiers on the 26th of March, and the wounding of two others,” said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.
“Russia’s destabilising actions undermine the de-escalation in tensions that had been achieved through an OSCE-brokered agreement back in July of last year.”