Hawks in U.S. administration provoking transition of conflict in Donbas into hot phase hoping to involve Russia in it - Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service

MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - The hawks in the U.S. administration are deliberately provoking a transition of the conflict in Donbas to a hot phase, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service said.

"The events show that the hawks in the U.S. administration are deliberately provoking a transition of the conflict in Donbas to a hot phase, hoping to involve Russia in it," the Foreign Intelligence Service said in a report issued on Monday.

"Washington is customarily trying to shift the blame for a possible start of military action, accusing Moscow of escalating tension and intimidating ordinary people with an alleged inevitable 'invasion' of Ukraine by Russia," the document said.