US sounds fresh alarm over Russia invasion fears

 

The US secretary of state has said the extension of

Russian military drills in Belarus has made him

more worried about an imminent invasion of

Ukraine.

Antony Blinken said Moscow's decision to keep

about 30,000 troops in Belarus, next to Ukraine,

amid raised tension in eastern Ukraine, suggests

this.

His warning came as unidentified US intelligence

sources said Russian commanders have been

ordered to invade.

But Ukraine said talk of an imminent Russian

invasion was "inappropriate".

Its Defence Minister Alexei Reznikov said an attack

"tomorrow or the day after tomorrow" was unlikely

as no Russian "strike groups" had yet formed near

the border.

Russia has denied it plans to invade its neighbour. A

Belarusian statement blamed the "deterioration of

the situation" in eastern Ukraine as one reason for

extending the drills in Belarus that were due to end

on Sunday.

Explosions have been continuing in Ukraine's

eastern Donbas region this weekend, amid

increased clashes between the Ukrainian

government forces and Russian-backed rebels.