Germany has voiced concern over the concentration of Russian troops near the border with Ukraine.
“The large troop presence on the border is, of course, not contributing to the de-escalation of the situation,” German government’s Deputy Spokeswoman Christiane Wirtz said on Wednesday, at a government regular press conference.
Wirtz called on the Russian government to pull back the Russian troops from the border with Ukraine and make steps towards a political solution to the crisis.
“German government would welcome a retreat by Russian forces near Ukraine's border,” Wirtz said. “Now it is time to make progress in the political talks through the contact group. The troops stationed there is not a step towards the de-escalation of the situation.”
Wirtz underlined Germany is still favoring dialog with Russia at all levels for reaching a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis.
The recent buildup of Russian troops along the border led to fears in Ukraine that Russia might be planning another intervention. Russia started a large-scale air-defense exercise in Astrakhan region near Ukrainian border on Monday.
“We are following the situation very closely,” German Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli said, “We expect the greatest possible transparency,” she stressed.
Tensions between the West and Russia have been at some of their highest levels since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was downed over rebel-held territory in the restive region on July 17, killing all 298 people on board.
Ukrainian security services were able to secure the crash site Thursday and Friday despite rebel attacks in the area.
At least 500 people have been killed since the Ukrainian army launched an "anti-terror" operation against pro-Russian separatists in April.
After Russia annexed Crimea in March following a referendum in the peninsula, pro-Russian separatists, hoping for a repeat scenario in eastern Ukraine, expressed their intention to break away from the central government in Kiev.
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