Ukraine: Putin ‘ready to work further’ with West on European security, Nato waits for evidence of Russia’s pullback claim
- Russian President tells Moscow press conference after meeting with Germany’s leader Scholz ‘we are ready to go down negotiations track’
- Earlier, Russia said some of its troops were returning to base after exercises near Ukraine; Nato urges Moscow to demonstrate its will to act
Tensions in Europe have run high in recent weeks on Western fears Russia may invade neighbouring Ukraine, which Moscow denied is its intention. Russia said earlier on Tuesday some of its troops were returning to base after exercises near Ukraine but released few details.
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‘We’re scared’: fear and uncertainty on Ukraine’s front lines
Meanwhile, Nato’s chief welcomed signals from Russia that it may be looking for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis but urged Moscow to demonstrate its will to act.
After weeks of rising tension the tone seemed to alter on Monday, when Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated the Kremlin was ready to keep talking about the security grievances that have led to the crisis.
“There are signs from Moscow that diplomacy should continue. This gives grounds for cautious optimism. But so far we have not seen any sign of de-escalation on the ground from the Russian side,” Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday.
He said Russia often left military equipment behind after exercises, creating the potential for forces to regroup.