Kiev, May 15 (IANS): Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia Thursday voiced concern over the upcoming military drills to be held by Russia near the border between Ukraine and Russia.
"Certainly, Russia's military exercises on the border with Ukraine hurt the chances to stabilise the situation in eastern regions," Xinhua quoted Deshchytsia as saying during an international conference on Ukraine's foreign policy.
Deshchytsia reiterated the accusation against Moscow for "failing to fulfill its commitment of the Geneva agreement", charging that the decision to hold military exercises during Ukraine's presidential elections could escalate the tension in eastern part of the country.
The presidential vote in Ukraine is scheduled for May 25.
The third round of "Avaidarts-2014" Russian exercises will be held in Russia's western Voronezh region May 21-26. The drills were planned before tension between Kiev and Moscow erupted.
The dispute between the two ex-Soviet neighbours escalated in March following massive pro-Russian rallies in eastern and southern Ukraine, in which protestors demanded autonomy from the government in Kiev and closer ties with Russia.
On April 17, Ukraine, Russia, the US and the European Union reached a deal in Geneva calling for all sides of the conflict to refrain from violence. As the agreement faltered, Kiev and Moscow have been accusing each other of violating the treaty.