KYIV: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday said it was important to stay 鈥渧igilant and firm鈥� during negotiations with Moscow amid rising fears of a Russian invasion.
The Kremlin has deployed over 100,000 troops and heavy armor along Ukraine鈥檚 borders, according to the West, which fears that the Kremlin will stage an incursion.
During a phone conversation with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, Kuleba thanked Paris for the decision not to evacuate the families of its diplomatic staff in Kyiv, the Ukrainian foreign ministry said.
The sides 鈥渟tressed the importance of being vigilant and firm in contacts with the Russian side,鈥� the ministry鈥檚 statement said, as well as continuing 鈥渢o promote a political and diplomatic settlement鈥� of the conflict between Kyiv and Moscow.
Both Kuleba and Le Drian underlined the need to 鈥渞efrain from steps that could fuel anxiety鈥� in Ukrainian society and 鈥渦ndermine the financial stability鈥� of the post-Soviet country, according to the statement.
Le Drian is expected to visit Ukraine together with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on February 7-8.
Kyiv said that Le Drian and Baerbock are planning a trip to the frontline area in the east of Ukraine where Kyiv troops have been battling with Russian-backed separatists for almost eight years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday called on the West to avoid creating 鈥減anic鈥� in the face of the Russian troop buildup on Ukraine鈥檚 border.
The US, Britain and Australia recently angered Kyiv by ordering the families of diplomats to leave their embassies in Ukraine.
The conflict with Russian-backed separatists has cost over 13,000 lives since 2014.
Moscow seized the Crimea peninsula the same year.