Russia correspondent Iris de Graaf:
“The situation in the area is very tense after a recent Ukrainian drone attack on positions of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. Russia often gathers troops at the Ukrainian border, only to withdraw them after a while. It is a way for Moscow to keep the situation tense and unstable.
But the latest moves by Russian military personnel in the area come as the Kremlin continues an increasingly harsh rhetoric against Ukraine. From Russia there has been much criticism of Kiev’s western ties and the Kremlin has repeatedly questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The relationship between Moscow and NATO is also particularly difficult. Russia suspended its mission to NATO in Brussels last month. Putin also regularly warns that any expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure on Ukrainian territory is a ‘red line’ for Moscow that will lead to measures – muscle language towards Ukraine and the West.”
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