WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is expressing concern about what it calls escalations of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russian-backed separatists since 2014. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said the U.S. government was aware of reports from the Ukrainian military of Russian troop movements on the border. He noted that the top U.S. military officer, Gen. Mark Milley, had made phone calls Wednesday to his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts. Kirby said the Russians escalations include violations of a July 2020 ceasefire.
