France warns Russia against new damage to Ukraine’s territorial integrity

France has warned Moscow against harming to Ukraine's territorial integrity, after the United States shared with European allies its fears about the relocation of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine and a potential attack.

France’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and Defense Minister Florence Parley issued an unusually blunt statement after meeting their Russian counterparts in Paris.

"The two ministers expressed their concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Ukraine and clearly warned of the serious consequences of any further possible damage to the territorial integrity of Ukraine," the statement said, Reuters reports.

Earlier, Russia had dismissed suggestions that Moscow might be weighing an attack and accused the United States of aggressive moves in the Black Sea.

“The patterns of Russian behavior are different from what we have seen before. So far, it is unclear if this military build-up is intended to lead to an incursion into Ukraine or if it is just another exercise,” a NATO source said, Reuters reported.

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