(ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS, 06 APR - NATO Secretary General Jens
Stoltenberg told Ukraine's leader on Tuesday that the alliance
has "serious concern" over Russian military activities around
its southern neighbour and backs Kiev's sovereignty. Last week,
Kiev accused Moscow of massing thousands of troops on its
northern and eastern borders, as well as on the Crimean
peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014. Stoltenberg said
he had called President Volodymyr Zelensky "to express serious
concern about Russia's military activities in and around Ukraine
and ongoing ceasefire violations". "NATO firmly supports
Ukraine's sovereignty an territorial integrity. We remain
committed to our close partnership." The phone call from the
NATO chief follows messages of solidarity for Ukraine from
leading alliance powers the United States and Britain, and from
the European Union. Last week the Pentagon said US forces in
Europe had raised their alert status following the "recent
escalations of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine". The
Kremlin has not denied the recent troop movements, but insisted
that Moscow was "not threatening anyone". It has warned it will
take take necessary "measures" in the event of any Western
military deployment in Ukraine. (ANSA-AFP).
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