Associated Press — May 19, 2014
Vladimir Putin has ordered troops deployed near Ukraine to return to their home bases, the Kremlin has said.
The move appears to indicate the Russian president’s intention to defuse the crisis over Ukraine, the worst in Russia‘s relations with the west since the end of the Cold war.
The west has protested against 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 ordered troops to return from the area near the Ukraine border, but the US and Nato said they had seen no evidence of a pullout and threatened further sanctions if Russia tries to derail Ukraine’s presidential vote set for Sunday.
Russia’s defence ministry insisted there was no buildup near the border, saying troops in in western Russia were simply involved in regular training.
Putin went one step further on Monday, ordering the defence 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-table talks in Ukraine, which were held last week under a peace plan brokered by Switzerland.
He urged the Ukrainian authorities to immediately end its military operation in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian army and police have sought to put down a pro-Russian rebellion in the east.