Russia announces 'partial' withdrawal of troops from Ukrainian border, US remains sceptical | Top points
India Today
Russia has announced to pull back more troops and weapons to its bases from the Ukrainian border. However, the US and some of its Nato allies are walking a tightrope on the matter.
In signs of easing tensions around its conflict over Ukraine, Russia on Wednesday said it was returning more troops and weapons stationed at the border back to its bases besides giving a nod to talks with the West. However, the US and some of its Nato allies are walking a tightrope on the matter.
On Tuesday, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that some units participating in military exercises would begin returning to their bases. This came after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met Russian premier Vladimir Putin, where he reportedly demanded “clear steps to de-escalate the current tensions" from Russia.
Russia wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet nations out of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), halt weapons deployments near its borders and roll back forces from eastern Europe. The failure of diplomatic talks led Russia to station its troops near Ukraine, prompting the US and its allies to think a possible Russian invasion in Ukraine. However, Russia has denied having any invasion plans and called it the West's "hysteria" and "madness".
1. After meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, Vladimir Putin said he is ready to take a diplomatic route to dissolve tensions with the West. Putin said the West has agreed to discuss a ban on missile deployment to Europe, restrictions on military drills and other confidence-building measures.
Putin said Russia is open to discussing “some of those elements", but added that it would do so only in combination "with the main issues that are of primary importance for us".
2. After Vladimir Putin's meeting with the German Chancellor on Tuesday, the Russian Defence Ministry released a video on Wednesday armoured vehicles moving across a bridge in a train away from Crimea. However, the Russian military hasn't given the number of troops or weapons being withdrawn from the border.
3. Even as it claimed to pull some troops from the Ukrainian front, Russia continued to engage in training missions over Belarus that neighbours Ukraine to the north. Russian fighter jets flew training missions over Belarus and paratroopers held shooting drills at firing ranges. The West fears this could be used as a cover for a possible Russian invasion in Ukraine.
