Vladimir Putin ‘withdraws troops’ from border

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Moscow had pulled back its forces from the Ukrainian border amid Western fears of an imminent military invasion of Russia’s crisis-hit Western neighbour.

 

“We were told constantly about concerns over our troops near the Ukrainian border. We have pulled them back. Today they are not at the Ukrainian border but in places of regular exercises, at training grounds,” he said after meeting with Swiss president and current OSCE chief Didier Burkhalter.

 

In what appeared to be a breakthrough in the worst crisis between East and West since the Cold War, Mr Putin also called on pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine to postpone a vote on secession just five days before it was to be held, potentially pulling Ukraine back from the brink of dismemberment.

Read More: Ukraine crisis: Vladimir Putin ‘withdraws troops’ from border – Telegraph.