BBC Online :
Nato is not seeing a Russian troop pullout from the border with Ukraine, the military alliance’s chief has said.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen again stressed that the best way to solve the crisis was through “a political dialogue”.
Nato foreign ministers are now discussing ways to help Ukraine and also reassure allies in Eastern Europe.
This comes after Russia’s takeover last month of Ukraine’s Crimea region. Meanwhile, Moscow warned Kiev against integration with Nato.
It is the first time ministers from the 28-member Nato bloc have convened since the annexation of Crimea.
The alliance has also bolstered air drills to be held over the Baltic states.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel he had ordered a partial withdrawal of Russian troops near the eastern border of Ukraine, according to the German government.
Moscow is believed to have massed tens of thousands of soldiers there in recent days, causing alarm in Kiev and the West. Nato sources say some 35,000- 40,000 Russian troops are massed near Ukraine’s eastern border.
The Russians say this is a military drill but I am told that what is worrying Western intelligence experts is that there is actually very little exercising going on. The troops are simply deployed and waiting.
Tanks, mechanised infantry, and special forces – many of them among Russia’s most capable units – are all in the field and they have the logistical back-up to keep them there for some considerable time.
Russian energy firm Gazprom is increasing the price it charges Ukraine for gas from Tuesday.
Gazprom’s chief executive Alexei Miller said the price of Russian gas for Ukraine had gone up to $385.5 (£231) per 1,000 cubic metres in the second quarter of 2014 from the previous rate of $268.5.
Miller added that Ukraine’s unpaid gas bills to Russia stood at $1.7bn.
Tensions between the Kremlin and the West rose after the overthrow of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February, following months of street protests.
Russia’s subsequent decision to annex Crimea, after a Moscow-backed referendum that was later condemned as illegal by the UN General Assembly, triggered a crisis in relations.
Nato is not seeing a Russian troop pullout from the border with Ukraine, the military alliance’s chief has said.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen again stressed that the best way to solve the crisis was through “a political dialogue”.
Nato foreign ministers are now discussing ways to help Ukraine and also reassure allies in Eastern Europe.
This comes after Russia’s takeover last month of Ukraine’s Crimea region. Meanwhile, Moscow warned Kiev against integration with Nato.
It is the first time ministers from the 28-member Nato bloc have convened since the annexation of Crimea.
The alliance has also bolstered air drills to be held over the Baltic states.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel he had ordered a partial withdrawal of Russian troops near the eastern border of Ukraine, according to the German government.
Moscow is believed to have massed tens of thousands of soldiers there in recent days, causing alarm in Kiev and the West. Nato sources say some 35,000- 40,000 Russian troops are massed near Ukraine’s eastern border.
The Russians say this is a military drill but I am told that what is worrying Western intelligence experts is that there is actually very little exercising going on. The troops are simply deployed and waiting.
Tanks, mechanised infantry, and special forces – many of them among Russia’s most capable units – are all in the field and they have the logistical back-up to keep them there for some considerable time.
Russian energy firm Gazprom is increasing the price it charges Ukraine for gas from Tuesday.
Gazprom’s chief executive Alexei Miller said the price of Russian gas for Ukraine had gone up to $385.5 (£231) per 1,000 cubic metres in the second quarter of 2014 from the previous rate of $268.5.
Miller added that Ukraine’s unpaid gas bills to Russia stood at $1.7bn.
Tensions between the Kremlin and the West rose after the overthrow of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February, following months of street protests.
Russia’s subsequent decision to annex Crimea, after a Moscow-backed referendum that was later condemned as illegal by the UN General Assembly, triggered a crisis in relations.
