Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov responded Tuesday to Russian accusations that Ukraine is planning an attack after a buildup of troops in the east, saying this is a defensive measure against Russia's own troop buildup, but they have "no plans to attack anyone."
Tensions between the two countries have been rising since 2014, when the war against Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, collectively known as Donbas, began.
Though Russia continues to deny providing the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics troops and weapons, it also warned Ukraine against attempting to take the Donbas region back.
Russian officials alleged that Ukraine building its troops in the east was a sign of it trying to reclaim the rebel-controlled area, with Russian Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov previously warning that any "provocation" in the Donbas region would be "suppressed."
However, Ukrainian officials insist that this troop buildup is only a response to Russia's recent buildup of about 70,000 troops near its border with Ukraine.
"We don't plan to attack anyone and we don't plan to invade any other country's territory," Reznikov said. "Our defense capacity is important to protect our people, our society, our lives."
Reznikov has previously stated that in a worst-case scenario, Russia could invade as early as the end of January.
Ukraine is not the only nation worried about a possible Russian invasion, as several other Western countries have made it clear that they will support Ukraine should it be attacked.
Reznikov told reporters Tuesday that war in Ukraine would amount to war in Europe.
"There are clear signals from the international community that Ukraine will not be left alone in case of a Russian invasion," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has strongly emphasized that Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO represent a red line for Moscow, and also expressed concern about plans by some Alliance members to set up military training centers in Ukraine. He said that would give them a military foothold there even without Ukraine joining the 30-country military organization.
Reznikov said that Ukraine's right to join any military alliance, including NATO, was written down in the country's Constitution, adding "we are going to be a de facto NATO member and implement NATO standards."
"We are going to make to reforms because that is what we need," he added.
Reznikov was in Stockholm to meet his Swedish counterpart Peter Hultqvist and Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
