Russia moves troops and U.S. sends weapons as fear of war mounts in Ukraine

Amid mounting concerns of war, the United States and Russia traded provocations on Tuesday with Moscow conducting a wave of military exercises involving warplanes, naval ships and ballistic missiles and Washington delivering a fresh shipment of weapons to Ukraine including antitank missiles and bunker busters.

Diplomats on both sides accused the other of recklessly increasing tensions through troop movements and weapons transfers as they acknowledged broad gaps at the negotiating table.

Russia’s military exercises, involving thousands of troops, elite paratroopers and short range ballistic missiles, sent a message of military power designed to keep Moscow’s foes off balance and increase pressure on NATO and Ukraine, said military analysts.