Ukraine minister on Russian troops near borders

Ukraine's defense minister estimated on Friday that Russia has amassed more than 94,000 troops near their borders and said there is a probability of a "large-scale escalation" in late January.

Recently, Ukrainian and Western officials voiced alarm about a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine, saying they feared it could herald an invasion. Ukrainian Defense Minister told lawmakers that the Ukrainian intelligence service "notes that a probability of a large-scale escalation on the part of Russia exists."

Moscow has denied planning to invade and accused Ukraine and its Western backers of fabricating claims to cover up their own allegedly aggressive designs. Russia and Ukraine have remained locked in a tense tug-of-war after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.