Russian invasion of Ukraine possible, US warns Europe

WASHINGTON: The US is raising the alarm with European Union allies that Russia may be weighing a potential invasion of Ukraine as tensions flare between Moscow and the bloc over migrants and energy supplies.

With Washington closely monitoring a buildup of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border, US officials have briefed EU counterparts on their concerns over a possible military operation, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday dismissed the report as “empty and unfounded efforts to exacerbate tensions”.

“We have repeatedly said that the movement of our armed forces on our territory should not be a cause for concern,” Peskov told reporters on a conference call. “Russia is not a threat to anyone,” he said.

The assessments are believed to be based on information the US hasn’t yet shared with European governments, which would have to happen before any decision is made on a collective response, the people said. They’re backed up by publiclyavailable evidence, according to officials familiar with the administration’s thinking. A White House official said on Thursday evening that the US was consulting with allies over the buildup.

Russian defence ministry said on Friday that US military activity in the Black Sea region was aggressive and posed a threat to regional and strategic stability, the Interfax news agency reported.

The ministry added that it had detected six Nato reconnaissance flights over the Black Sea in the past 24 hours.