“We will pursue a political and diplomatic course because our fellow citizens live there and we will not expose them to danger,” Alexey Reznikov said

"I would like to reiterate that Ukraine is beefing up its defenses but we have no intention of launching an offensive against Donbas and Crimea. We will pursue a political and diplomatic course because our fellow citizens live there and we will not expose them to danger," Reznikov stated.

Reznikov called on the residents of Luhansk, Donetsk, Alchevsk, Horlivka, Yasynuvata, and other cities not to be afraid.

“Ukraine is not your enemy. And those who seem to want to protect you from Ukraine. Do not believe the rumors of an offensive,” he added.

Russia has deployed about 100,000 troops and military equipment along its border with Ukraine in recent months, fueling fears it might invade its neighbor, an accusation Moscow has continuously rejected.

The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian crisis stems from the protracted Russo-Ukrainian War that began in early 2014.

In December 2021, Russia advanced two draft treaties that contained requests of what it referred to as "security guarantees", including a legally binding promise that Ukraine would not join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as a reduction in NATO troops and military hardware stationed in Eastern Europe, and threatened unspecified military response if those demands were not met in full.

NATO has rejected these requests, and the United States warned Russia of "swift and severe" economic sanctions should it further invade Ukraine.

The crisis has been described by some commentators as one of the most intense since the Cold War. (ILKHA)