Russia Alarmed Over U.S. - Nato Military Moves
Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu expressed the concerns in a phone call to U.S. counterpart Chuck Hagel , but the U.S. said Mr. Shoigu also pledged Russia would not invade Ukraine
The U.S. says it depolyed extra troops in Esatern Europe to reassure Nato allies it has also imposed new sanctions on Russia over it's actions in Ukraine, the sanctions target seven Russian indiividuals and 17 companies which Washington says are linked to President Vladimir Putin's "inner circle"
The European Union is also imposing new sanctions on 15 people who will be named on Tuesday
In a statement , Mr. Shoidogu said he had a "candid" hour long phone call with his Americain counterpart , Mr. Shoigu stressed that U.S. and Nato military activity in Eastern Europe was accompanied by "provocative"'' statements about the need to "contain" Russia
Mr. Shoigu also announced that Russian troops had returned to their "permanent positions" after conducting military exercises on the border with Ukraine , but he did not say whether the overall number of Russian troops deployed in the region said to be around 40,000 had been reduced
The Pentagon said Mr. Shoigu had given "assurances that Moscow has no plans to invade Ukraine", iussian ambassat said Mr. Hagel had warned that Russia's continued aggression would result in more diplomatic and economic pressure
He also called on Moscow to help secure the release of seven military observers linked to the Organization for Security and Co Operation in Europe , seized by Pro Russian gunmen in the town of Sloviansk last week , some 40 people , including journalists , Pro Kiev activists and three members of Ukrainian security services are being held there
The Russian ambassador to the OSCE , Andrei Kelin , earlier said Moscow was taking "steps" to secure the observers release
The U.S. and E.U. first imposed visa bans and asset freezes on a number of senior Russian officials and companies after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine
On Monday , Washington added to it's sanction list "in response Russia's continued illegal intervention in Ukraine and provocative acts that undermine Ukraine's democracy , among the individuals named are Igor Sechin , head of state oil giant Rosneft and Alexei Pushkov , chairman of the committee of international affairs of Russia's lower house of parliament
The U.S. accused Russia of "doing nothing nothing to meet it's commitments made" at a meeting with Ukraine , the U.S. and E.U. in Genevia on April 17th , which it said had included refraining from Violence or provocative acts
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow's response would be "painful for Washington"