Ukraine Cites 15,000 Russian Troops and Rebels Amid Putin's 'Take Kiev' Remark [View all]

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg

By Henry Meyer and Daryna Krasnolutska Sep 2, 2014 10:50 AM ET

Sept. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg’s Hans Nichols reports on how NATO’s expanding involvement in Ukraine may change the ongoing crisis and President Barack Obama’s visit to the region. He speaks on “Bloomberg Surveillance.”

Russia stepped up its criticism of the U.S. over Ukraine as President Barack Obama heads to eastern Europe to reassure NATO members of their security.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine’s allies are stoking the five-month conflict and should back peace talks, even as President Vladimir Putin sought to calm concern over remarks his army could “take Kiev” in a matter of weeks. Ukrainian Defense Minister Valeriy Geletey said defenses must be strengthened in the face of a “full-scale invasion” by Russia.

“Unfortunately, the rise of the ‘party of war’ in Ukraine is being actively encouraged by Washington and some European capitals and more and more frequently from NATO headquarters in Brussels,” Lavrov told reporters today in Moscow.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-02/russia-says-u-s-europe-incite-party-of-war-in-ukraine.html