The Kremlin said yesterday the arrival of about 300 US paratroopers in Ukraine to train Kiev’s National Guard could destabilise the situation in the east of the country, where pro-Russian separatists are fighting Ukrainian government forces.

Ukraine has repeatedly asked for international help to boost its defensive capabilities. Western countries have so far declined its requests to supply weapons, while offering non-lethal military aid and training.

“The participation of instructors or specialists from third countries on Ukrainian territory, where the domestic Ukrainian conflict is unresolved ... could destabilise the situation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow.

He was referring to the arrival of the US paratroopers in western Ukraine this week to begin a six-month training rotation with three battalions. Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of interfering in the year-old conflict by sending in troops and weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied those charges and warned against excessive Western influence in Ukraine.

The training mission, which was first announced in August last year, had been due to start in March but was put on hold until further progress was made in implementing a ceasefire deal, agreed in February, to end a conflict in which more than 6,100 people have been killed.