Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian troops deployed in an area near the Ukraine border to return to base after the completion of their training operation.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen was quick to condemn the announcement, saying it was the third time Russia had reported a redeployment, and that they couldn’t see any movement on the border.
But maybe they’re not looking hard enough? Ukrainian border patrols confirmed a decrease in Russian military activity in the area along their mutual border, and Reuters also confirmed seeing tanks leaving the training area.
NATO has long demanded Russia withdraw the troops, while Russia has urged Ukraine to similarly withdraw its troops from the border areas, where they have been attacking protesters.