Russia ‘moves troops in Crimea’ ahead of Ukraine-US meet
KYIV, Sept 18 (AFP): Kyiv accused Moscow Thursday of massing its troops in annexed Crimea on the Ukraine border, rattling nerves just as President Petro Poroshenko prepared to meet US counterpart Barack Obama.
The apparent push north by about 4,000 troops in the Black Sea peninsula came despite Russia’s declared backing of a peace overture by Kyiv to try to end five months of conflict in the rebellious east.
“According to our information, almost all military units of the Russian Federation stationed in the north of occupied Crimea… were pushed to the administrative border with Ukraine along with all their equipment and ammunition,” National Security and Defence Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters.
Poroshenko holds his first White House talks with Obama later Thursday, seeking to gain security guarantees from Washington as he steers the former Soviet state on a clear westwards path.
The meeting comes just two days after parliament in Kyiv ratified a historic pact with the EU and adopted legislation offering self-rule to the east in votes crucial to the future shape of the nation.
Poroshenko’s offer won Russia’s support, although the pro-Moscow rebels have been more dismissive, saying it will not stop their fight for full independence.
The self-rule law and accompanying legislation granting amnesty to fighters were drawn up under a truce signed 13 days ago that has eased-but not halted-deadly violence around insurgent strongholds in eastern Ukraine.
The situation around the flashpoint city of Donetsk appeared to be calm Thursday after days of shelling that has left around 30 civilians and soldiers dead.
Moscow, echoing comments by Washington and Brussels, said Kyiv’s overture was a “step in the right direction” towards ending a conflict that has cost almost 2,900 lives and sent East-West tensions spiralling to post-Cold War highs.
The law was approved just moments before MPs also ratified a landmark political and economic pact with the EU that decisively pulls Ukraine away from Moscow’s sphere of influence.
Poroshenko will cast Russia as a global menace when he meets Obama, in the hope of winning a “special status” guaranteeing his troubled nation’s security and support for future membership of NATO.