Russia has ordered troops to withdraw from the Ukrainian border

Russia’s defense minister has ordered tens of thousands of troops deployed near the border with Ukraine to return to their bases to immediately allay fears conflict and reduce tensions with the west.

Moscow carried 100,000 troops, including tanks, military aircraft and ships, to the border with Ukraine in recent weeks, according to Kyiv, raising fears of a possible invasion. encouraging condemnation From the US and the NATO military alliance. Russia said the troops were doing exercises and were not a threat to anyone.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Thursday that the exercises were over and that troops should start leaving the region by Friday. He added that all troops would return to their original bases by May 1st.

“I think the surprise control goals have been fully achieved,” Shoigu said in a statement. “The troops have shown the ability to provide a reliable defense of the country. In that regard, I made the decision to complete [the exercises]”.

Any sensitive Russian ruble the threat of Western sanctions, jumped to 1.4 percent in dollar news.

“The reduction of troops on our border proportionally reduces tension,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter. “Ukraine is always vigilant, but nevertheless welcomes steps to reduce its military presence and reduce the situation. [the eastern region of] Donbass. Ukraine seeks peace. We are grateful for the support given to our international partners, ”he added.

NATO has said Russia’s announcement is “important and very backward.”

The possibility of war between Russia and Ukraine has put more pressure squeeze Relations between the Kremlin and Western powers in Moscow as a result of new US sanctions, tit-for-tat chain diplomatic expulsions and international anger poor health Imprisoned opposition activist Alexei Navalny.

The withdrawal call seems intended to allay short-term fears of a conflict, the region will remain a potential focal point, and Russia and NATO will continue to blame each other for sparking tensions with the military deployment.

NATO has said it will continue to “closely monitor Russia’s unjustified military army” in and around Ukraine. “NATO is with Ukraine and we continue to respect Russia’s international commitments and withdraw all its forces from Ukrainian territory.”

Shoigu said all Russian troops should be “ready to respond immediately” to NATO’s Defender Europe exercises, which are taking place in Eastern European countries until June.

Announcement of the group’s withdrawal when President Vladimir Putin addressed the annual national parliamentarians to warn Western countries “Fast and Tough” the answer is if they cross “one of the red lines” in Russia.

Putin added on Thursday that Zelensky was ready for talks aimed at rebuilding the relationship, but also suggested that the Ukrainian president should hold talks with the separatist government backed by Moscow in Donbass.

“There were a lot of steps aimed at destroying our relationship, and we, of course, can only regret it,” Putin said. “If President Zelensky wants to start restoring those relations, we will only accept this.”

Russia seized the Crimean peninsula in 2014 in 2014, sparking a war between Russian separatists and the Ukrainian army in a war for control of Donbass, eastern Ukraine bordering Russia.

Russia’s unexpected decision to conduct the latest military drills was a significant increase in the ceasefire violations in Donbass, with more than 14,000 people killed since the conflict began.

The exercises warned Ukrainian officials and some western capitals that Russia was studying a military operation on Ukrainian territory.

Ihor Romanenko, a former deputy chief of staff of Ukraine, said the delay in announcing troops was “due to the successful efforts of Ukraine and its allies, the US, the UK, Poland and NATO”. As members drew their “red line” in favor of Putin, the Russian president “could not overcome it,” he added.

But a Zelensky adviser warned that he was still not sure what the withdrawal meant.

“Of course, any withdrawal is welcome, but given the unprecedented accumulation of Russian forces in recent months and the accumulation of duration in recent years, it is not clear exactly what this statement means,” the person said. “It’s still hard to predict how that will develop.”