Russia must pull back troops from Ukraine border: US
Friday, 28 March 2014
US President Barack Obama has urged Russia to "move back its troops" on Ukraine's border and lower tensions.
Russia is believed to have massed a force of several thousand troops close to Ukraine's eastern frontier, according to a news agency.
Mr Obama told CBS News it may "be an effort to intimidate Ukraine, or it may be that [Russia has] additional plans."
Meanwhile, a Russian security official has said intelligence measures are being stepped up to counter Western threats to Moscow's influence.
Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine after voters in the region backed the move in a 16 March referendum. But both actions were condemned as illegal on Thursday by the UN General Assembly.
Fears are growing that other parts of Ukraine with large ethnic Russian populations could also be of interest to Moscow.
Federal Security Service (FSB) deputy head Alexander Malevany said Russia was facing "a sharp increase in external threats to the state".
"The lawful desire of the peoples of Crimea and eastern Ukrainian regions is causing hysteria in the United States and its allies," he was quoted as saying by Interfax.
Mr Malevany said Moscow was taking "offensive intelligence measures" to counter Western efforts to "weaken Russian influence in a region that is of vital importance".