The arrival of 4,000 Russian troops on the country’s border with Ukraine could trigger a European war, according to a military expert on the region.
Pavel Felgenhauer’s warnings came as social media showed suspected Russian military build-up close to rebel-held eastern Ukraine and the annexed Crimea region, according to reports.
“The crisis has the potential to escalate into a pan-European war, if not even a world one,” said Felgenhauer, an independent Russian military analyst, in a recent interview with the Rosbalt news outlet in Russia. “Will it happen or not? Let’s wait and see. In the West, they don’t know what to do about it.”
On Friday, Russia warned that it would “take extra measures” if NATO sends troops to Ukraine as images emerged of Russian military helicopters and tanks amassing at the border.
Last week, the US pledged “unwavering support” to Ukraine.
