Ukraine denies Moscow’s allegation that it sent troops into Russia By Reuters

By Dmitry Antonov and Michel Rose

MOSCOW/PARIS (Reuters) -Russia’s navy stated on Monday Ukrainian navy saboteurs had tried to enter Russian territory in armed autos, an accusation dismissed as “pretend information” by Kyiv amid Western accusations that Moscow might fabricate a pretext to invade.

The Russian navy stated 5 individuals had been killed when the Ukrainian saboteurs have been thwarted. Ukraine and its Western allies have been saying for days that Moscow might manufacture a pretext to invade Ukraine with an enormous pressure it has massed on the border.

Western nations accuse Russia of planning to invade a neighbour that it had managed till the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Moscow denies planning any assault however has demanded sweeping safety ensures, together with a promise that Ukraine won’t ever be part of NATO.

Hours earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron stated Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden had agreed in precept on a gathering.

An adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron instructed Reuters that Macron had put the proposal to Putin at Biden’s request.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated a name or assembly between Putin and Biden might be arrange at any time, however there have been no concrete plans but for a summit. Tensions have been rising, he stated, however a overseas ministers’ assembly was attainable this week.

Macron’s workplace and the White Home stated the substance of the plan could be labored out by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov throughout a gathering deliberate for Thursday.

European monetary markets have been tumbling on Monday at indicators of elevated confrontation, after having briefly edged larger on the glimmer of hope {that a} summit would possibly supply a path out of Europe’s greatest navy disaster in many years.

After the report of the alleged incursion, main European bourses have been down between 0.5% and 1.8%. Russian shares plunged. [MKTS/GLOB] [RU/RUB]

Russia’s navy stated troops and border guards had prevented a “diversionary reconnaissance” group from breaching Russia’s border from Ukrainian territory close to Rostov and that 5 individuals had been killed, Russian information companies reported.

Interfax cited the Russian navy as saying that Ukrainian armed autos had been destroyed.

Ukraine rejected the report, calling it pretend information, and stated no Ukrainian forces have been current within the Rostov area the place the incident was alleged to have taken place.

Satellite tv for pc imagery launched on the weekend appeared to indicate Russian deployments nearer to Ukraine’s border than earlier than.

Nerves frayed additional when Moscow’s shut ally Belarus introduced on Sunday that Russia would prolong navy workout routines there.

Russia has tens of 1000’s of troopers in Belarus – a part of what Washington says is a pressure now numbering 169,000-190,000 troops within the area, together with pro-Russian rebels in jap Ukraine.

After talks in Brussels with NATO Secretary-Basic Jens Stoltenberg, British overseas minister Liz Truss stated Western nations have been making ready for a “worst-case state of affairs”. The airways Lufthansa, KLM and Air France all cancelled flights to Kyiv.

However the European Union rebuffed a name from Kyiv to impose some sanctions now to attempt to avert warfare earlier than it began.