The Kremlin said on Friday the arrival of about 300 US paratroopers in Ukraine to train Kiev’s National Guard could destabilize the situation in the east of the country

The Kremlin said on Friday the arrival of about 300 US paratroopers in Ukraine to train Kiev's National Guard could destabilize the situation in the east of the country.

"The participation of instructors or specialists from third countries on Ukrainian territory, where the domestic Ukrainian conflict is unresolved ... could destabilize the situation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow during a conference call.

He was referring to the arrival of the U.S. paratroopers in western Ukraine this week to begin a six-month training rotation with three battalions.

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.

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