US And Russia Argue At The UN Security Council, Ukrainian Security Officials Say They Saw No Sign Of The Moscow Operation

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Alexey Danilov. (Source: National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian security officials say they see no sign of a major operation against their country, as the United States and Russia argue at the UN Security Council over the Moscow invasion.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Alexey Danilov said Kyiv saw no signs of a large-scale operation against Ukraine.

"Regarding a large-scale operation against our country, we don't see that," he said on television channel 1+1, as quoted from TASS February 18.

However, he said Kyiv noted a 'provocation' by Russia in the Donbass. Danilov said Kiev should exercise restraint and the Ukrainian armed forces were ready to resist provocations.

"The aim is to encourage us to respond strongly so that we can be accused of something we would not have done," he said.

Previously, the Ukrainian government and the Russian-backed rebels accused each other when the two sides came into contact on Thursday.

As previously reported, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his concerns about Moscow's invasion of Ukraine during a meeting held at the UN Security Council on Thursday to discuss the Minsk Agreement.

Foreign Minister Blinken encouraged Moscow to announce without qualification, pretext or deflection, that it would not attack Ukraine.

"Speak clearly. State it clearly to the world, and then show it by sending your troops, your tanks, planes back to their barracks and hangars and sending your diplomats to the negotiating table," he said, citing Reuters.

In response, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin rejected Foreign Minister Blinken's statement, calling it a 'regrettable' and 'dangerous' move that further fueled tensions. He said Russian troops remained on Russian territory and some units had returned to their bases after the exercise.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Vershinin has appealed to lawmakers not to turn the meeting into a 'circus', making baseless accusations that Russia is suspected of attacking Ukraine.

"I think we've speculated enough about that. We've long since clarified everything and explained everything," said Vershinin