MFA Ukraine refutes Putin's allegation of Kyiv preparing offensive in Donbas

That’s according to a comment provided to Ukrinform by Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oleh Nikolenko.

"The statement of the president of Russia about the alleged preparation of a ‘military operation’ in Donbas by Ukraine is false," Nikolenko said.

He has noted that Ukraine only seeks peace and that the constant efforts of the Ukrainian leadership to bring the peace process out of a standstill, especially in the Normandy format, clearly illustrate Ukraine's commitment to political and diplomatic tools toward settling the armed conflict.

"Moreover, the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office and our delegation in the Trilateral Contact Group did a titanic job to restore ceasefire yesterday," Nikolenko said.

The foreign ministry also called on Russia to focus on implementing the ceasefire agreements and ceasing the international armed conflict in eastern Ukraine.

"People on both sides of the line of contact in Donetsk and Luhansk regions deserve peace and tranquility, especially on the eve of the New Year’s holidays," said the MFA spokesman.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a news conference that "Ukraine may be preparing for a military operation."

As Ukrinform reported, on December 22, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov stated that 122,000 Russian servicemen have been deployed at a 200-km distance from the Ukrainian border, and another 143,500 – at a distance of 400 km.

NATO has warned Russia that further aggression against Ukraine would have far-reaching "strategic and economic" consequences.

Moscow has denied accusations of plotting an incursion into Ukraine, explaining the latest mobilization with the efforts to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.

On December 5, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that the total number of Russian troops deployed near Ukraine's border could rise to 175,000.

According to Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar, the situation around Ukraine's borders remains difficult, while Russia continues to amass troops to maintain tensions in the region.

The United States and the European Union have maintained steadfast support for Ukraine amid military escalation by Russia. Washington and Brussels are in constant consultation to develop a common position in response to Russia's hostile rhetoric and the buildup of troops near Ukraine.

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