EU warns of information ‘manipulation’ over Ukraine

The Russian media outlets accuse Kyiv of plotting an assault on rebel enclaves in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

“The E.U. sees no grounds for allegations coming from the non-governmental controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of a possible Ukrainian attack,” Borrell’s statement said.

Given such disinformation efforts, Borrell said the E.U. fully supported the OSCE European security body which has observers deployed in Ukraine, adding they “play a key role” in verifying activity on the ground.

He also expressed concern at a spike in ceasefire violations noted by the OSCE between rebel positions and Ukrainian forces.

“We commend Ukraine’s posture of restraint in the face of continued provocations and efforts at destabilization,” he added.

E.U. member countries and the United States have said they believe Moscow is striving to create a pretext for an attack on Ukraine by falsifying violent incidents on the ground and having proxy outlets put out false information.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday he was “convinced” that Russia would further invade Ukraine within days.

And on Saturday, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told German broadcaster ARD: “Every indication indicates that Russia is planning a full-fledged attack against Ukraine.”