Russian President Vladimir Putin is “playing chess” with the West by moving military forces and equipment along Russia’s border with Ukraine, Ukraine’s new defense minister said Friday while calling on the United States and European nations to hold the Kremlin accountable for any renewed aggression.

“He is testing the unity of the European Union, he is testing the unity of NATO allies, he is testing our society, Ukrainians, he is testing Poland, the Baltic countries”, - Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in an interview to The Washington Post, during his visit to Washington, a trip that has included face-to-face talks with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and a request for additional military assistance.

Reznikov said he and his American counterpart came to the same conclusions about the situation on the Russia-Ukraine border, though he suggested some Ukrainian officials initially viewed the developments with less alarm, having grown numb to the threat from Russia after nearly eight years of war.

“I hope he has not made his decision on this point”, - Reznikov said, accusing Putin of “trying to grow that fear in the hearts of people”.