The Cuban government views the United States' accusations against Russia
over security issues as "hysteria propaganda," and opposes NATO's expansion
into eastern Europe. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said
this.
"We strongly reject the media hysteria and propaganda fueled by the US
government against Russia, and we firmly oppose NATO's expansion into the
sister nation's borders," he said in a Twitter post.
The West and Kiev have echoed accusations of a potential Russian invasion of
Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced these claims as "empty
and baseless", serving as a tactic to escalate tensions, pointing out that
Russia poses no threat to anyone.
However, Peskov did not rule out possible provocations aimed at justifying
the claims and warned that attempts to use military force to resolve the
crisis in southeastern Ukraine would have serious consequences.
For months the US and NATO have been concerned about the presence of Russian
troops on the Ukrainian border.
The New York Times reports US officials currently estimate that Russia has
up to 190,000 troops stationed along Ukraine's borders and in the east of
the country.
Claims from Russian officials that they were reducing troop numbers earlier
this week were refuted by NATO and the United States, which suggested that
Russia appeared to be doing the opposite.
The White House believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to
launch an attack on Ukraine in the coming days, targeting its capital, Kiev.
Leaders in the Russia-backed region of Ukraine asked its military units to
mobilize on Saturday. Ukraine has accused Russia of trying to create a
pretext for an invasion.
Moscow vehemently denies the accusations. On Friday, the breakaway Donetsk
and Lugansk regions announced an urgent evacuation of civilians to Russia,
citing fears of a "breakthrough" threat by Ukrainian forces, which Kiev also
denies.
The leaders of two separatist republics in eastern Ukraine ordered the women
and children to flee and head for Russia as soon as possible.
Their impoverished territory and rebel-held industry in Ukraine have been at
the center of weeks of tension between Russia and the West.
Conflict monitors have warned of a sharp escalation in ceasefire violations
in fighting between the Ukrainian army and the separatists.