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| Nato warns of Russian army build-up on Ukraine border | Nato warns of Russian army build-up on Ukraine border |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Nato's military commander in Europe has issued a warning about the build-up of Russian forces on Ukraine's border. | Nato's military commander in Europe has issued a warning about the build-up of Russian forces on Ukraine's border. |
| Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen Philip Breedlove said Nato was in particular concerned about the threat to Moldova's Trans-Dniester region. | Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen Philip Breedlove said Nato was in particular concerned about the threat to Moldova's Trans-Dniester region. |
| Russia said its forces east of Ukraine complied with international agreements. | Russia said its forces east of Ukraine complied with international agreements. |
| The build-up has been allied with Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, following the removal of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president. | The build-up has been allied with Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, following the removal of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president. |
| Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia warned that the risk of war with Russia was growing. | |
| "The problem is with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is that he doesn't want to talk to - not only to the Ukrainian government - but also to the Western leaders," Mr Deshchytsia told the BBC. | |
| "And this is quite a danger for the decision-making process. We could only expect that he might invade." | |
| Meanwhile, US Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken said Washington was reviewing every request Ukraine was making for help. | |
| "When it comes to military assistance, we're looking at it," he told CNN. | |
| But he added: "The facts are these: even if assistance were to go to Ukraine, that is very unlikely to change Russia's calculus or prevent any invasion." | |
| President Barack Obama earlier ruled out sending US troops to Ukraine. | |
| Moscow formally annexed Crimea after the predominantly ethnic-Russian region held a referendum which backed joining Russia. | |
| Kiev and the West have condemned the vote as "illegal". | Kiev and the West have condemned the vote as "illegal". |
| Russian flags have now been hoisted at 189 Ukrainian military units and facilities in Crimea, the Interfax news agency reports. | Russian flags have now been hoisted at 189 Ukrainian military units and facilities in Crimea, the Interfax news agency reports. |
| Moscow's ambassador to the EU told the BBC the "reunification" had not been pre-planned but was the end of an "abnormality" which had lasted for 60 years. | Moscow's ambassador to the EU told the BBC the "reunification" had not been pre-planned but was the end of an "abnormality" which had lasted for 60 years. |
| Vladimir Chizhov also said said Moscow did not have any "expansionist views" and that "nobody should fear Russia". | Vladimir Chizhov also said said Moscow did not have any "expansionist views" and that "nobody should fear Russia". |
| But he warned the US against sending troops or military aid to Ukraine, saying it would be a "grave mistake". | |
| Also on Sunday, Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council chief Andriy Parubiy told a big rally in Kiev: "The aim of [President Vladimir] Putin is not Crimea, but all of Ukraine... His troops massed at the border are ready to attack at any moment." | |
| 'Adversary' | 'Adversary' |
| The comments by Gen Breedlove came at an event held by the German Marshall Fund think-tank in Brussels. | The comments by Gen Breedlove came at an event held by the German Marshall Fund think-tank in Brussels. |
| He said: "The [Russian] force that is at the Ukrainian border now to the east is very, very sizeable and very, very ready." | He said: "The [Russian] force that is at the Ukrainian border now to the east is very, very sizeable and very, very ready." |
| He added: "There is absolutely sufficient force postured on the eastern border of Ukraine to run to Trans-Dniester if the decision was made to do that and that is very worrisome. | He added: "There is absolutely sufficient force postured on the eastern border of Ukraine to run to Trans-Dniester if the decision was made to do that and that is very worrisome. |
| "Russia is acting much more like an adversary than a partner." | "Russia is acting much more like an adversary than a partner." |
| Trans-Dniester is a narrow strip of land between the Dniester river and Ukraine's south-western border and it proclaimed independence from Moldova in 1990. | Trans-Dniester is a narrow strip of land between the Dniester river and Ukraine's south-western border and it proclaimed independence from Moldova in 1990. |
| The international community has not recognised its self-declared statehood. | The international community has not recognised its self-declared statehood. |
| As Crimea was annexed, the Trans-Dniester Supreme Soviet sent a request asking to join the Russian Federation. | As Crimea was annexed, the Trans-Dniester Supreme Soviet sent a request asking to join the Russian Federation. |
| Meanwhile, Russia's Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov told the Itar-Tass agency: "The Russian Defence Ministry is in compliance with all international agreements limiting the number of troops in the border areas with Ukraine." | |
| Bases stormed | Bases stormed |
| Correspondents say Russian forces appear to be stepping up their efforts to secure full military control of all of Crimea. | Correspondents say Russian forces appear to be stepping up their efforts to secure full military control of all of Crimea. |
| The BBC's Ian Pannell, in Belbek, says the few remaining Ukrainian troops on the peninsula feel beleaguered and abandoned by their commanders. | The BBC's Ian Pannell, in Belbek, says the few remaining Ukrainian troops on the peninsula feel beleaguered and abandoned by their commanders. |
| He saw Russian troops use stun grenades and automatic weapons in a raid on the Belbek airbase, near Sevastopol, on Saturday. | He saw Russian troops use stun grenades and automatic weapons in a raid on the Belbek airbase, near Sevastopol, on Saturday. |
| The BBC's Mark Lowen also witnessed the takeover of the Novofedorivka base in western Crimea by Russian troops. | The BBC's Mark Lowen also witnessed the takeover of the Novofedorivka base in western Crimea by Russian troops. |
| Russian soldiers and pro-Russian protesters stormed the base and forced Ukrainian troops to leave. | Russian soldiers and pro-Russian protesters stormed the base and forced Ukrainian troops to leave. |
| Russia annexed Crimea following a referendum on 16 March, which came after the overthrow of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February. | Russia annexed Crimea following a referendum on 16 March, which came after the overthrow of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February. |
| The Kremlin said it had acted to protect its "compatriots" in Crimea from "fascists" moving in from the mainland Ukraine. | The Kremlin said it had acted to protect its "compatriots" in Crimea from "fascists" moving in from the mainland Ukraine. |
| The US and EU have responded with a series of sanctions targeting those individuals - including senior officials - involved in Crimea's annexation. | The US and EU have responded with a series of sanctions targeting those individuals - including senior officials - involved in Crimea's annexation. |
| Are you in the region? Email us haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and include your contact details. | Are you in the region? Email us haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and include your contact details. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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