Robin Emmott, Sabine Siebold

BRUSSELS (Reuters), NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reminded Russia that NATO was supporting Ukraine despite a high and unusually large concentration of Russian troops within Ukraine’s borders.

Stoltenberg stressed that it was important to stop situations spiraling out of control and urged Russia’s transparency about its military activities to lower tensions, as well as to avoid an escalation.

We need to see clearly and be honest about our challenges. Stoltenberg said that he sees a large, significant Russian military buildup. He spoke to a press conference in Brussels with Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister.

Although he was not willing to speculate about Russia’s intentions, he added that “We see an extraordinary concentration of troops” and noted: “We know Russia is ready to use these kinds of military capabilities to attack Ukraine.

Over the last days, fears have been raised about a Russian attack. Moscow has dismissed such suggestions as inflammatory and complained https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-is-not-threat-says-kremlin-after-media-report-about-possible-ukraine-2021-11-12 about increasing activity in the region by the NATO transatlantic alliance.

Russia annexed Crimea, Ukraine from Ukraine, in 2014. Moscow claims the waters around the area now belongs to Moscow despite the fact that most countries still recognize it as Ukrainian.

Russian-backed separatists gained control over Ukraine’s eastern Donbass area that year. Both sides continue to lose soldiers in this conflict.

Stoltenberg stated that the NATO troop border increase – Ukraine had last week estimated it at 100,000 – was dangerous because it reduced warning time should Russia “conduct an aggressive military action against Ukraine.”

He said that while this is partially forces near the Ukraine-Russia border, it also includes troops and capability which are within Ukraine. Also, we can see militants and separatists in Donbass which, like Ukraine, is supported and assisted by Russia.

NATO’s source said, when asked how Russia deploys its military equipment to Ukraine: “large equipment, such as tanks and self-propelled artillery, is moved at night in order to avoid telling-tale photos showing up online, just like they did in spring during Russia’s military build-up.”

Gabrielius Landsbergis from Lithuania, the foreign minister, stated that “it can go either way,” also Monday’s meeting was marred by a meeting between his European Union counterparts.

While the West is not able to exclude Russia’s attack on Ukraine, international attention is on Belarus’ migration crisis or Russia’s permanent military presence, he stated.

He said, “I wouldn’t exclude that possibility as a possible,”