Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops deployed in regions near Ukraine to return to their home bases, the Kremlin said Monday.
The move appears to indicate Putin’s intention to de-escalate the crisis over Ukraine, the worst in Russia’s relations with the West since the end of the Cold War.
The West has protested the deployment of 40,000 Russian troops near the border with Ukraine, seeing it as a possible preparation for grabbing more land after the annexation of Crimea in March.
Putin has previously said he has ordered troops to return from the area near the Ukraine border, but the United States and NATO have said they see no sign of a pullout and have threatened more sanctions if Russia tries to derail Ukraine’s presidential vote set for Sunday.
The Russian Defense Ministry insisted that there were no buildup near the border, saying that the troops in the regions in western Russia are involved in regular training.
Putin went one step further Monday, ordering Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to pull out forces involved in such training in the Rostov, Belgorod and Bryansk regions, according to a statement released by the Kremlin.
Putin also voiced support for round tables in Ukraine, which were held last week under a peace plan brokered by Switzerland, which currently chairs the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
He urged the Ukrainian authorities to immediately end a military operation in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian army and police have sought to put down a pro-Russian rebellion in the east.
(AP)
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4 Responses
Huh! All “news” is propaganda (sometimes just to make money; normally to promote some party or cause), but Russia’s is in the top league. Tell a lie enough times and people will believe it. Russia already told us their troops are moving back – no change followed. She also said Russian speakers in Ukraine are her interest and she has a “right” to intervene. Can France do the same in Canada or in Belgium? Russia, the world rejects your claim! If you want those “Russians” to come and live in your big coutry, send and invite. Otherwise, stop interfering – unless you think it’s ok for Iran, Saudi Arabia and China to intere in Russia to “protect their interests”.
Avi: The world may reject Russia’s claim but the world will not fight a war against nuclear Russia on Ukraine’s behalf as Ukraine is not a national interest of the West enough to go to (a hot) war with Russia.
And the West “intervened” in Ukraine when they assisted the current junta in committing a coup de’tat overthrowing the elected government of Ukraine. So the West are hypocrites.
Yo, Vlad baby! Pics, or it didn’t happen.
I agree that the West will not fight a war against Russia, but they might end up hitting her economically, cutting her out of their financial system. As to whether the Kiev govt is a junta, just how many countries have legit govts, lawful even under their own constitution? You’d be surprised at the answer. If you. Go back one step to how countries gained independence, well … Almost all govts could only claim de facto legitimacy. Al pi halacha, a malchus remains the rightful ruegime even after a coup, even if the king agrees to the change (eg a colony going it alone)!