Kremlin says Russia cannot de-escalate due to Ukrainian troop presence nearby

FILE PHOTO: The national flag of Ukraine flies over the town of Kramatorsk, Ukraine November 25, 2021. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Wednesday it could not de-escalate tensions with the West over Ukraine due to a large concentration of Ukrainian forces near its border.

U.S., NATO and Ukrainian officials have expressed concerns over unusual Russian troop movements near Ukraine. Moscow has said its posture is purely defensive.