U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States and Russia have agreed to exchange information about developments in Ukraine’s restive eastern region.
Kerry told reporters at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in Beijing Saturday that, despite some disagreements over the situation in Ukraine, Washington and Moscow will trade some information.
Meanwhile, Associated Press reporters on Saturday reported seeing roughly 80 unmarked military vehicles “on the move” in parts of eastern Ukraine held by pro-Russian rebels, signaling a potential rise in tensions. On Friday, Ukrainian officials had reported increased activity in the region and NATO officials had cited a recent buildup on the Russian side of the border.
A temporary cease-fire has been in place since early September between government troops and the rebels entrenched along Ukraine’s eastern border.
Saturday’s AP report said its journalists spotted three columns: one near the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, and two near the town of Snizhne, about 80 kilometers or 50 miles farther east. It said some trucks carried troops; others carried artillery systems.
The reporters were unable to identify the vehicles’ provenance.
Moscow’s choices will affect sanctions
Back in Beijing, Kerry mentioned sanctions against Russia and said Moscow’s choices on Ukraine “will decide what happens … in the long run.”
Kerry also said he hoped the cease-fire agreement developed during September peace talks in Minsk would go forward.
He made the comments after a brief meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who avoided reporters’ questions about his country’s military involvement in Ukraine.
Lavrov’s only comment concerned the cease-fire agreement. “The cease-fire has been signed between the rebels and the [Ukrainian] government,” he said. “It’s for them to finalize the disengagement line, which they are doing right now.”
NATO reports buildup
On Friday, NATO said it has seen a large buildup of armored vehicles on the Russian side of the border with Ukraine.
NATO sources said the vehicles appeared to be unoccupied. However, a spokesperson said they “represent a potential for significant reinforcements of heavy weapons to the Ukrainian separatists.”
Earlier Friday, Ukraine said Russia had sent dozens of tanks, heavy weapons, ammunition and soldiers into Kremlin-backed eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said in a televised briefing Friday that “supplies of military equipment and enemy fighters from the Russian Federation to the anti-terrorist operation zone are continuing.”
Lysenko said at least 32 tanks, 16 howitzer artillery systems and 30 trucks loaded with ammunition and fighters from Russia crossed into separatist-held Ukrainian territory Thursday, headed in the direction of Krasny Luch town in the Luhansk region.
Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Linez wrote in an email to VOA that, “if confirmed, these actions would be yet another blatant example of Russia’s disregard for international law, and further evidence that Russia is not abiding by the commitments it signed up to in the Minsk agreements.”
Lysenko also said five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and more than a dozen wounded in fighting late this week.
Watch related video by VOA’s Pam Dockins:
U.S. Defense Department spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said Friday that the United States had no independent confirmation that Russian tanks and troops had crossed the border.
However, he added, “What we do see is a continued presence of significantly capable and ready battalion tactical groups – Russian battalion tactical groups – right across that border … and they are doing nothing to decrease the tension in the region.”
Ukraine and the West have frequently accused Moscow of backing separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk with arms and troops.
Russia has denied any direct role in the uprising, which has cost more than 4,000 lives since April.
US election impact?
Last Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections could embolden Russia and other countries to more directly challenge U.S. foreign policy positions – especially if President Barack Obama is viewed as weak and indecisive, said international security analyst Robert Manning.
Russian President Vladimir Putin “looks like he is trying to strengthen his position in eastern Ukraine and breakaway Donetsk from the rest of the country, and he might be more encouraged to do that,” said Manning, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank.
VOA’s Pam Dockins contributed to this report from Beijing.
