Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have also been exacerbated in recent weeks by a deepening Ukrainian energy crisis that Kiev believes Moscow has purposefully provoked. "The buildup, coupled with the energy blackmail, does suggest a more aggressive Russian posture," an adviser to Zelensky told CNN. And publicly, Ukraine has downplayed the idea that Russia is building up its military presence near the border beyond normal levels. Concerns over the Kremlin's intentions stem from Russia's invasion of the Crimean peninsula in 2014. Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, say they do not believe the US has done enough to deter Russian aggression.

Source: CNN November 06, 2021 23:03 UTC