Tensions between the two countries have, yet again, fired up. What has caused this? 

Russia has recently been accused of mobilising at their Ukrainian border by Ukraine, the USA, and the UN. UN General Secretary Jen Stoltenberg has warned Russia against any further provocation or aggressive actions after previous warnings by US officials that Russia could be preparing to invade Ukraine. In remarks made at a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Stoltenberg said that we have seen large and unusual concentrations of Russian forces close to Ukraine’s borders and called on Russia to be transparent about its military activities. 

This is the second case this year of Russia amassing military personnel at the border and their movements around the border have raised concerns. There have also been concerns expressed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russia was planning a coup to overthrow his government. Russia has been threatened by NATO members that any invasion or government overthrow attempt of Ukraine will be met with serious military action. 

Russia has since rejected these claims and blamed Ukraine and the USA of purposefully escalating tensions. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that hysteria was being artificially whipped up by the west and that Russia was being accused of some kind of unusual military activity on its own territory by those who have brought in their armed forces from across the ocean in reference to the US.  

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has referenced his intelligence agency in which he said there will be a coup attempt in the coming days that involves the Russians. “I received information that a coup d'état will take place in our country on December 1-2,” he said, adding he had audio recordings as evidence. Despite this, Mr Zelenskyy has not yet directly accused the Russian government. Russia quickly responded to Zelenskyy’s statements, saying it had no plans to launch a coup in Ukraine, adding that they do not participate in such actions.