'Russia is threatening us with destruction': Ukraine warns Putin he will 'bear very painful consequences' if soldiers cross the border after President Biden CANCELS deployment of US warships despite Moscow's military build-up
Ukraine has warned Russia that it will bear 'very painful' consequences if it invades as Vladimir Putin continues to mass his forces in eastern Europe.
Dmytro Kuleba, the country's foreign minister, said today that Moscow is 'openly' threatening Ukraine with 'destruction' by stationing 80,000 troops along its border - with more arriving every day - calling on western allies to provide more practical support and warning that 'words are not enough'.
He spoke following a meeting with the foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - NATO allies in the region - saying 'the four of us condemn the exacerbation of the situation by Russia.'
'The world is on the side of Ukraine and international law, and this is one of the elements of restraining Russia from reckless actions,' he added.
He spoke as it was revealed that Washington had U-turned on a decision to send two warships into the Black Sea, a day after Russia warned them to stay away 'for their own good'.
Turkey, which polices the straits leading to the sea, said on Tuesday that permission for two warships to pass through was abruptly cancelled with no explanation given.
Instead, Joe Biden slapped sanctions on Russia for attempts to interfere in the US election and a large hack of US government data that American intelligence services blame on Moscow.
Biden expelled 10 Russian diplomats, some of them alleged spies, hit 32 entities tied to Russian election interference including a notorious 'troll farm', and sanctioned eight people and entities linked to the occupation of Crimea. He also restricted US companies trading Russian state debt, hurting Moscow's ability to raise cash.
Biden is also using 'diplomatic, military and intelligence channels' to respond to reports that Russia offered militants bounties for killing American soldiers in Afghanistan, the White House said.
Ukrainian troops man trenches in the eastern Donbas region as the country's foreign minister warns Moscow it will bear 'very painful consequences' if it invades
Ukrainian troops, which have been fighting a years-long conflict with Russian-backed separatists, are now facing the prospect of a Russian army crossing the border as Putin builds his forces
Ukrainian servicemen keep watch at a position on the frontline with Russia-backed separatists near Gorlivka, Donetsk
A Ukrainian soldier has a smoke break inside a trench in the Donetsk region close to the frontlines with Russian-backed separatists, where fighting has been ongoing for years
Putin is continuing to build up his forced on the border with Ukraine, as the government warns troops numbers could swell to 110,000 with 7,000 tanks and other vehicles in support
The UK and EU also joined the US in blaming Russia for the data breach - known as the SolarWinds hack after the government contractor it targeted - with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab accusing Putin of trying 'to undermine our democracies.'
After the sanctions were announced, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that 'such aggressive behavior will undoubtedly trigger a resolute retaliation.'
'Washington should realize that it will have to pay a price for the degradation of the bilateral ties,' Zakharova said, adding that 'the responsibility for that will fully lie with the United States.'
She said the ministry has summoned the U.S. ambassador for a 'hard conversation,' but wouldn't immediately say what action Russia will take.
In the meantime, Russia's build-up on the border of Ukraine continues - with leaked Ukrainian intelligence suggesting troop numbers could eventually reach 110,000 from the current 80,000, alongside 7,000 tanks and other vehicles.
Ukraine's defence minister has also warned a meeting of NATO leaders that Russia could be preparing to move nukes into Crimea, a hugely provocative move that would drag the region closer to all-out war.
Biden has also offered to hold a summit with Putin in an attempt to cool relations, a move which has been hailed in Moscow as evidence that the US had blinked first in the standoff.
'It was a very important step forward... news on a global scale,' said Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian parliament's upper house
'It was Biden who asked for yesterday's phone call, Biden called and Biden wanted to talk about a summit,' pro-Kremlin talk show host Vladimir Solovyov said on his morning radio programme.
Referring to the US readout, he said: '200 words! But where are those on human rights? Not a word on gays in Chechnya, not a word on LGBT+ and especially not a single word on Navalny'.
Fyodor Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of the journal Russia in Global Affairs, said the Kremlin would see Biden's invitation now as an about-face.
'In Russia, the prospect of a meeting will be presented as a major achievement, and in a sense it is, because not long ago Biden said offensive things about Putin and, when asked to talk, said there was no time,' he said.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said the Russian president is 'studying' plans for a summit but added that it is 'too early' to discuss specifics. Russia has called neighbouring Finnish leader Sauli Niinisto, where the last summit between Trump and Putin was held, but no details have been announced.
In another sign that Biden is now softening his tone towards Moscow, the deployment of two US destroyers into the Black Sea was cancelled last night.
Turkey had originally confirmed that Washington had asked for permission for two warships - the USS Donald Cook and USS Roosevelt - to transit through straits which it polices and into the Black Sea in a move that was assumed to be a deterrent to Putin.
But last night Turkey said the U.S. Embassy in Ankara had notified the foreign ministry of the decision, without giving a reason. U.S. officials were not immediately available for comment.
A Russian tank is seen on the back of a flatbed truck on a road leading towards Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, as Russian forces continue to mount in the region
Putin has continued massing forces on the Ukraine border despite Biden's calls for 'de-escalation' which are likely to go unheeded after he imposed fresh sanctions on Moscow
Russian support vehicles are seen on the a road leading between Rostov-on-Don in Russia and Mariupol in Ukraine
Russian BTR 80 armoured personnel carriers daubed with broad white stripes on their way to a railway station on Wednesday
Similar markings were painted on Soviet Army tanks during the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 (pictured)
Ukrainian soldiers are pictured holding a kitten near the frontline with Russian-backed rebel forces in the east of the country, where they have been fighting a years-long war that has ground to a stalemate
Russia's defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, has previously denied plans to invade Ukraine - saying that Russia is merely carrying out training exercises in response to a NATO troop build-up and drills near its border.
On Thursday, Russian news channels played what appeared to be old military footage of supply drops in Alaska and Bulgaria, claiming they showed NATO forces in Ukraine. NATO denies any build-up in the country.
There are now thought to be some 40,000 Russian troops in the region, massing at a military camp south of the city of Voronezh along with tanks, artillery, armoured personnel carriers, missile launchers and support vehicles.
Another 30,000 pro-Russian rebel troops are also stationed in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine where they are engaged in a years-long fight with Ukrainian forces that has largely reached a stalemate.
An additional 40,000 Russian troops are also stationed in Crimea, where the Black Sea Fleet is based along with reinforcements being moved across from the Caspian Sea.
At a meeting of NATO defence and foreign ministers in Brussels yesterday, Mr Taran voiced his concerns that troops in Crimea would be used to stage 'substantive military provocations' - including the potential of nukes being moved into the region.
'Crimea's infrastructure is being prepared for potentially storing nuclear weapons,' Mr Taran told the European Parliament's defence subcommittee.
'The very presence of nuclear munitions in the peninsula may spark a whole array of complex political, legal and moral problems.'
He spoke just hours after ships of the Black Sea Fleet staged a snap live-fire drill, firing missiles at both sea-level and aerial targets.
Russian state TV showed two missile ships, the Graivoron and the Vyshny Volochek, taking part in sea-level and aerial target practice alongside a missile hovercraft, a frigate and a mine-sweeping ship.
The drill, described as a 'combat readiness check' by Russian officials, was staged shortly before the USS Donald Cook and the USS Roosevelt were expected to arrive and before the missions was called off.
The Graivoron and Vyshny Volochek are Buyan-M class missile corvettes and are armed with 100mm naval guns, anti-ship cruise missile launchers, anti-air cruise missile launchers and anti-submarine hardware.
Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov had previously warned the American vessels to stay away 'for their own good' and said there was a risk of 'incidents' between the US and Russian ships.
He added: 'There is absolutely nothing for American ships to be doing near our shores, this is purely a provocative action. If there is any aggravation we will do everything to ensure our security and safety. But Kiev and its allies in the West will be entirely responsible for the consequences.'
Ukraine staged its own exercise, with troops rehearsing repelling a tank and infantry attack near the border with Crimea.
Tanks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are seen during drills at an unknown location near the border of Russian-annexed Crimea, Ukraine
Ukraine has said it will not hesitate to defend its territorial integrity if Russia decides to move its forces into the country
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a session of the Russian Geographical Society via video link in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 14
The report seen by the Mail, from the Ukrainian defence ministry and entitled 'RUS troops massing around UKR', says: 'By the end of April 2021, Russians are going to deploy up to 26 BTGs (Battalion Tactical Groups), several artillery tactical groups, air defence units, reconnaissance units and 4 Special Operations Forces detachments.
'The total amount estimated to be 54 BTGs, up to 107,000 troops, up to 1,300 tanks, 3,700 armoured vehicles, up to 1,300 artillery systems and mortars and up to 380 multi-launch rocket systems.'
Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said last night: 'The gravity of opinion among those closely following developments has shifted noticeably.
'They are more alarmed, due to the scale of the Russian military presence, the distances the troops and equipment are travelling towards eastern Ukraine and the statements issued by Russian government officials.
'While this does not mean there will be all-out war, we are much closer to conflict than we have been. We could be looking at both a show of strength by the Kremlin and genuine steps towards military action – it does not have to be one or the other.'
German defence minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer accused Russia of seeking provocation in a bid to justify the advance of so many troops towards Ukraine.
She warned Moscow that the world would not be 'drawn into Russia's game', adding: 'If it is a manoeuvre like the Russian side says, there are international procedures through which one can create transparency and trust.
'We are committed to Ukraine, that is very clear. It is clear that Moscow is just waiting for a move, so to speak, from Nato, to have a pretext to continue its actions. But together with Ukraine, we will not be drawn into this game. And so far Ukraine has reacted in a sober manner.'
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