Blinken, French, German Counterparts Affirms Support for Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, his French and German counterparts reaffirmed their full support to Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia, the State Department said on Friday.

The top diplomates called on Russia to halt a troop buildup on Ukraine’s borders, and suggested stepped-up consultations among the NATO allies on Russia’s massing of forces.

Russian military movements have fueled concerns that Moscow is preparing to send forces into Ukraine. The Kremlin believes that its troops do not represent any threat, however, it affirms they will remain as long as it sees fit.

Blinken spoke separately with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in statements.

Blinken and Le Drian “discussed the need for Russia to end its dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric, its military buildup in occupied Crimea and along Ukraine’s borders, and unilateral Russian provocations along” the frontlines in eastern Ukraine, Price noted.

Furthermore, Price said Blinken and Maas “emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine against unilateral Russian provocations” along the frontlines.

They also discussed the need for Russia to “immediately cease its military buildup and inflammatory rhetoric,” the spokesman added.

On her part, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that the US has been diplomatically engaging with Russia and other countries about “the escalating Russian aggressions in eastern Ukraine, including Russia’s troop movements on Ukraine’s borders.”

“We are, of course, in close consultation and working with partners and allies in the region, to assess, to share intelligence, to determine what’s happening ... and what can be done about it,” Psaki said, declining to further discuss the “internal diplomatic process.”