Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western nations not to hype up the presence of Russian troops on their borders.

He warned the media that warnings of an imminent attack would put Ukraine's economy at risk.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said he believed Russia could invade Ukraine next month. But Russia has denied any involvement in the attack. On Friday, Russia's foreign minister said Moscow did not want a war.

Russia has deployed 100,000 troops near the border with Ukraine. According to the BBC, Zelensky now sees no greater threat than last year's Russian military presence.

 

On Friday, US President Joe Biden said he would send a small force to Eastern Europe to bolster the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He did not specify where the troops would be present or when they would arrive.

The Pentagon said earlier this week that about 8,500 US troops had been alerted to the possibility of going anywhere.

The United States has rejected Russia's main demand that Ukraine is barred from becoming a NATO member, and insists it is offering Russia a "serious diplomatic path" to a solution.