Russia Labels U.S. an 'Adversary' As Tensions Rise Over Troop Buildup by Ukraine

Russia's deputy foreign minister has called the U.S. an "adversary" as tensions increase between Moscow and Washington amid a build-up of Russian troops by the Ukrainian border.

In a departure from the Kremlin's usual description of the U.S. as a "partner"—however fraught that partnership might be—Sergei Ryabkov's comments follow a warning by Secretary of State Antony Blinken that "there would be consequences" if Moscow "acts recklessly" in Ukraine.

Increased fighting between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country has spurred global concerns of a full-blown conflagration or invasion.

Blinken said on Sunday there were the most Russian troops on Ukraine's border since 2014, when Moscow annexed Crimea and Kremlin-backed separatists fought in Ukraine's southeast Donbas region.

Ryabkov told reporters on Tuesday that those in the U.S. "talk about a high price, but they never name it." In any case, he said, "we do not believe in such terminology [as] price and retribution."

"We are simply defending our interests and the interests of our citizens—the Russian-speaking population—and we will continue to protect them," he said, according to Interfax.

"The United States is our adversary—doing everything to undermine Russia's position in the international arena. We see no other elements in their approach to us.

"The United States and other NATO countries are deliberately turning Ukraine into a powder keg," Ryabkov added.

When contacted for comment, the U.S. State Department referred Newsweek to Blinken's comments made on Tuesday in Brussels next to Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, in which the Secretary of State said that the U.S. "stands firmly behind the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine."

His comments came on the same day that NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference Russia's troop build-up was "unjustified, unexplained and deeply concerning."

As the simmering conflict that has killed more than 13,000 people continues to escalate despite a ceasefire last year, Kyiv has said that Russia has about 40,000 troops on the eastern border and about 40,000 in Crimea.

"Russia must end this military buildup in and around Ukraine, stop its provocations and de-escalate immediately," Stoltenberg said.

Russia has repeatedly dismissed criticism of its troop presence, describing it as a sovereign issue for Russia, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying on Sunday "nobody is planning to move toward war."

Meanwhile, Russia's defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, accused Washington and NATO of massing troops on Russian borders, with most of them concentrated in the Baltic region and the Black Sea.

Shoigu said on Tuesday in televised remarks that Russian troops had been sent to its western borders for training exercises over the next fortnight, "in response to the alliance's military activities that threaten Russia."

This story has been updated with a response to Newsweek from the U.S. State Department.