White House: US watching concentration of Russian troops on Ukraine’s border

The United States and Ukraine remain in touch at various levels in connection with the increasing military threat from Russia due to the concentration of Russian troops near Ukraine’s border and in the occupied Crimea.

“We remain in touch with Ukrainian officials at a range of levels,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a briefing on April 12.

Psaki noted she would not comment on the issues being discussed by the American side with the partners.

The White House Press Secretary emphasized that the US had watched the increasing aggression of Russian forces on Ukraine’s border “over the course of the weekend.”

As noted, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin are in Brussels this week, meeting with their NATO partners. “I’m sure this [Russia’s escalation] will be a topic of discussion,” the White House Press Secretary added.

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left for Brussels where he will take part in NATO consultations and hold bilateral and multilateral meetings. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also plans to visit NATO Headquarters this week.

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