US accuses Russia of violating ceasefire agreement in Ukraine

(Baonghean.vn) - On Thursday, April 23, the US State Department accused Russia of deploying many air defense systems in eastern Ukraine and violating a previously agreed ceasefire agreement.

Pro-Russian rebels control most of eastern Ukraine. Photo: Internet

The United States also said Russia had been involved in training separatist forces in the region and building up forces along the border.

The Kremlin has yet to respond to the allegations.

A ceasefire between Ukrainian rebel forces and pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine was brokered by the West in Minsk in February.

Ukraine accuses Russia of supplying weapons to the rebels and sending Russian troops across the border, but Moscow denies this.

US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement that "Russian separatist forces" had violated the terms of the Minsk agreement, storing anti-aircraft guns and missile launchers in the restricted area.

"The Russian military has deployed additional air defense systems in eastern Ukraine and moved many of them closer to the front line," she said.

"This is the largest amount of Russian air defense equipment in eastern Ukraine since August."

Ms Harf also said the "increasingly sophisticated nature" of the training of pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine demonstrated Russia's involvement.

US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf protested the increasingly obvious presence of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine. Photo: Internet

"Russia is also building up forces along the border with Ukraine," she said.

"After maintaining a relatively stable presence along the border, Russia is sending additional units here. These forces will give Russia its largest presence on the border since October 2014."

Earlier this month, about 300 US troops arrived in western Ukraine to train with Ukrainian national guard units.

At the time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned the move “could seriously destabilize” the situation in Ukraine.

One of the key points of the Minsk agreements stipulates that all foreign armed groups and mercenaries must withdraw from Ukrainian territory.

The United Nations says at least 6,116 people have been killed since fighting began in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in April last year.

Pham Tien Hoan

(According to BBC)