Russia must stop military growth in and around Ukraine - Stoltenberg
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to immediately stop provocations in Ukraine and on its borders.
He stated this at a joint briefing with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Brussels, the EP reports.
"In recent weeks, Russia has withdrawn thousands of troops with combat readiness to the Ukrainian border. It's the largest accumulation of Russian troops since the annexation of Crimea in 2014," Stoltenberg said.
He stressed that several Ukrainian servicemen had died in recent days and called the significant increase in Russian troops unjustified.
"Russia must stop the military build-up in and around Ukraine, stop provocations and immediately reduce tensions," he said.
He stressed NATO continued to call on Russia to stop supporting militants in eastern Ukraine and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory.
Stoltenberg stressed NATO supports Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and the decisions made at the Bucharest Summit, but stressed that reforms would help Ukraine move closer to NATO.
