US officials and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Wednesday that Russia had increased its military presence along its border with Ukraine.
The remarks by US and NATO officials came a day after Russian officials said they were returning some of their troops to their bases on the border with Ukraine.
But State Department spokeswoman Ned Price told reporters Wednesday that “no less, but more Russian troops are moving along the Ukrainian border and in a worrying combat position.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers in the Belgian capital, Brussels, on Wednesday that he had heard about Moscow’s readiness for diplomatic efforts. NATO has so far shown no signs of abating on the border.
Mr Stoltenberg added: “On the contrary, it seems that Russia continues to increase its military presence on the border.”
Meanwhile, Estonia’s intelligence chief, Mac Maran, has claimed that Russia may launch a limited offensive against Ukraine, including rocket attacks, airstrikes and seizure of its territory.
According to Maran, Russia will now refrain from attacking Ukraine’s most populous cities because an attack on major cities would require more troops, but he said it is not yet clear which areas of Ukraine Russia would attack.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Russia could launch a military strike on Ukraine at any moment.
