The growing number of Russian troops at the Ukraine border has set alarm bells ringing among the G7 nations of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States. The Foreign Ministers of these nations as well as High Representative of the European Union have now issued a joint-statement saying that they are “deeply concerned by the large ongoing build-up of Russian military forces on Ukraine’s borders and in illegally-annexed Crimea.”

They further said, “These large-scale troop movements, without prior notification, represent threatening and destabilising activities.” They have called upon Russia to “cease its provocations and to immediately de-escalate tensions” and uphold its international commitments with respect to transparency of military movements.

Tensions have been high in the region ever since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russia also took over the city of Sevastopol, even today allegedly occupies Donetsk and Luhansk regions. There have been several outbreaks of brutal clashes between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists, that have forced many people to flee their homes over the years. But a new boiling point was reached recently when tens of thousands of Russian troops began to gather across Ukraine’s border with Russia, sparking fears of war.

The G7 countries went on to reaffirm their “unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.” They also commended “Ukraine’s posture of restraint.”

*Feature image: File picture of Military base at Perevalne during the 2014 Crimean crisis by Anton Holoborodko via Wikimedia Commons.