{"id":232258,"date":"2021-04-20T07:24:55","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T07:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=232258"},"modified":"2022-02-28T17:55:45","modified_gmt":"2022-02-28T17:55:45","slug":"eu-estimates-150000-russian-troops-near-ukraines-borders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=232258","title":{"rendered":"EU estimates 150,000 Russian troops near Ukraine\u2019s borders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Raf Casert \u2013 AP Apr 19, 2021<\/strong><\/h1>\n

The European Union\u2019s foreign policy chief has estimated that more than 150,000 Russian troops have already amassed for the biggest military buildup ever near Ukraine\u2019s borders and that it will only take \u201ca spark\u201d to set off a confrontation.<\/h4>\n

Josep Borrell also said Monday that the condition of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny<\/span><\/a> was \u201ccritical\u201d<\/span> and that the 27-nation group would hold the Kremlin accountable for his health and safety.<\/h4>\n

Despite the developments, Borrell said after a virtual meeting of the EU foreign ministers that, \u201cfor the time being, there is no move in the field of more sanctions\u201d to be imposed on Russia.<\/h4>\n

He also said there wasn\u2019t a request for a synchronized EU diplomatic move of expulsions in the standoff between Czech Republic, an EU member state, and Russia following Prague\u2019s accusation that Moscow was involved in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion.<\/h4>\n

More dangerous at this time, Borrell said, was the massing of Russian troops, including military field hospitals, and \u201call kinds of warfare.\u201d<\/h4>\n

\u201cIt is the highest military deployment of the Russian army on the Ukrainian borders ever. It\u2019s clear that it\u2019s a matter of concern when you deploy a lot of troops,\u201d Borrell said. \u201cWell, a spark can jump here or there.\u201d<\/h4>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s more than 150,000 Russian troops massing on the Ukrainian borders and in Crimea. The risk of further escalation \u2014 it\u2019s evident,\u201d he told reporters after the meeting.<\/h4>\n

Borrell declined to say where he got the 150,000 Russian troop number from, but called it \u201cmy reference figure.\u201d It\u2019s bigger than the 110,000 estimate provided by Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran on Wednesday.<\/h4>\n

More than 14,000 people have died in seven years of fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that erupted after Russia\u2019s 2014 annexation of Ukraine\u2019s Crimean Peninsula. The EU has steadfastly opposed the annexation but has been unable to do anything about it.<\/h4>\n

Efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled and violations of a shaky truce have become increasingly frequent in recent weeks across Ukraine\u2019s eastern industrial heartland known as the Donbas.<\/h4>\n

Diplomats had expected there was little to no chance of immediate new sanctions on Moscow, but they now will seek to apply more pressure nevertheless through diplomacy.<\/h4>\n

\u201cMoscow must switch from provocation to cooperation,\u201d German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.<\/h4>\n

And over the weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron said that while dialogue with Russia is essential, \u201cclear red lines\u201d carrying possible sanctions must also be drawn with Moscow over Ukraine.<\/h4>\n

\u201cAll in all, the relations with Russia, are not improving, but the contrary, the tension is increasing in different fronts,\u201d Borrell said.<\/h4>\n

\u201cWe call on Russia to withdraw their troops,\u201d Borrell said.<\/h4>\n