Response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine will be swift and strong - Blinken

In a phone call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the situation around Ukraine against the background of Russian aggression.

This is laid down in a statement by U.S. State Department Spokesman Ned Price, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Voice of America.

The head of American diplomacy discussed with his interlocutor the United States’ “firm commitment to respond swiftly and strongly to any further Russian invasion of Ukraine," the statement said.

It is also noted that the parties discussed efforts "to promote the democratic process in Libya."

As reported, according to Ukrainian and Western intelligence agencies, Russia has built up on the border with Ukraine nearly 100,000 troops. On January 11, live-fire exercises kicked off in Russia’s Western Military District, involving some 3,000 servicemen and 300 armored vehicles.

On January 12, more than 10,000 servicemen of the motorized infantry units of the Southern Military District and units of the Black Sea Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla were deployed for "field training" at the military ranges in Russia, Armenia, and the seized regions of Georgia (Abkhazia and South Ossetia), as well as the occupied Crimea.

On January 14, a snap combat readiness check was launched for the troops in Russia’s Eastern Military District.

Photo: The Ukrainian President’s Office

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