Russia deployed more troops to Ukraine border to ensure security – Kremlin

“We are surprised by such claims about the concentration of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border. In this case, it’s not about any concentration of military forces, but about the measures to fortify the borders of the Russian Federation, the measures ordered directly by President Putin,” Peskov said.

Peskov said that the order was issued a few weeks ago and “received approval from European leaders.”

Presidential aide Yury Ushakov has said that President Vladimir Putin informed French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the steps Russia is taking.

Peskov declared that the measures at the border were taken due to the fact that “the cases of its breach, including the violations using military equipment, have become more frequent.”

“Concerning the quantity of the military forces, it’s determined by the requirements to ensure a sufficient level of security at the border,” he added.

On Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that there was a military build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine’s eastern border.

Rasmussen called the build-up “a regrettable step backward” and claimed that the troops “don't appear to be engaged in ‘border patrol' duties.”

"We now see a new Russian military build-up around the Ukrainian border. At least a few thousand more Russian troops are now deployed," Rasmussen said in London.

"It seems Russia keeps the option open to intervene further in Ukraine," he said. "The international community would have to respond in a firm manner if Russia were to intervene further in Ukraine."