Moscow/Brussels, Feb 16, (dpa/GNA) – Russia said it had pulled back yet more troops from the Ukrainian border area on Wednesday, while NATO claimed Moscow was doing precisely the opposite and pressed on with plans, to beef up its own presence in the alliance’s eastern flank.

NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, said the Western military alliance had so far “not seen any de-escalation on the ground.”

“On the contrary, it appears that Russia continues the military build-up,” Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels. “What we see is that they have increased the number of troops and more troops are on their way.”

Russia first indicated on Tuesday it would decrease its presence in the areas near Ukraine, where it has amassed troops – well over 100,000 according to NATO, and equipment in recent weeks, prompting fears over a potential invasion.

On Wednesday, the Russian Defence Ministry said several units involved in manoeuvres on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, have now returned to their bases after finishing exercises.

The Defence Ministry has given little information on the type of forces being withdrawn, and how many troops were involved.

State news agency Ria Novosti, released a video showing a platoon of tanks and other military vehicles, travelling in darkness over the Crimean Bridge that connects the peninsula to mainland Russia.

After Stoltenberg dismissed this as proof of a serious, sustained withdrawal, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, promptly hit back, saying there were “problems” with NATO’s analysis.

Moscow, which has backed pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014, claims it has no designs on an invasion.

Still, Moscow’s troop announcements have raised a slight glimmer of hope that the crisis along Ukraine’s border could be easing after weeks of intense diplomacy and threats by the West of punishing sanctions.

But scepticism remains high. Ukraine, the United States, European powers and NATO all suggest they will not take Russia at face value and needed independent confirmation.

Other manoeuvres that have caused alarm continues, such as Russian military exercises in Belarus, which also borders Ukraine.

The defence ministers of the 30 NATO countries, including US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, will discuss plans for additional deterrence against Russia later on Wednesday in Brussels.

NATO allies have been sending more ships, fighter jets and troops into Eastern Europe and putting other soldiers on standby.

Following Moscow’s 2014 Crimean annexation, NATO deployed four battle groups of multinational forces in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.

As well as strengthening existing units, the alliance is also planning to establish new battlegroups on its Russian-facing south-eastern flank, despite demands from Moscow to reverse this eastward expansion. France has already offered to lead a new battlegroup in Romania.

Plans for other new NATO units remain unclear, but diplomatic sources indicate that Russia’s actions will likely require long-term changes to NATO deployments. Some NATO members that border Russia or Ukraine feel threatened, diplomats say.

The 30 allies are expected to announce at the defence ministers meeting in Brussels, their intention to conduct a related review in the coming weeks.

German Defence Minister, Christine Lambrecht, said a decision on permanent adjustments should be made “not in this current situation”, but in a few months “after an intensive examination and scrutiny of the situation at that time.”

Meanwhile, Ukraine was marking a “day of unity” on Wednesday. President Volodymyr Zelensky declared the occasion earlier this week after reports in US media cited February 16 as a day Russia could launch an attack.

State employees are obliged to sing the anthem and classes have been suspended in schools across the country. Television stations are set to broadcast special programmes in the morning and afternoon.

Zelensky spoke in a video of an important day for the country, saying Ukrainians may differ in language and geography but are “united by the desire to live in peace, to live happily.”

Ukrainian government forces have been battling the pro-Russian separatist forces that control the Donbas area of Ukraine’s east for some eight years. According to UN estimates, about 13,000 people have died there since the conflict began.

GNA

Moscow/Brussels, Feb 16, (dpa/GNA) – Russia said it had pulled back yet more troops from the Ukrainian border area on Wednesday, while NATO claimed Moscow was doing precisely the opposite and pressed on with plans, to beef up its own presence in the alliance’s eastern flank.

NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, said the Western military alliance had so far “not seen any de-escalation on the ground.”

“On the contrary, it appears that Russia continues the military build-up,” Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels. “What we see is that they have increased the number of troops and more troops are on their way.”

Russia first indicated on Tuesday it would decrease its presence in the areas near Ukraine, where it has amassed troops – well over 100,000 according to NATO, and equipment in recent weeks, prompting fears over a potential invasion.

On Wednesday, the Russian Defence Ministry said several units involved in manoeuvres on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, have now returned to their bases after finishing exercises.

The Defence Ministry has given little information on the type of forces being withdrawn, and how many troops were involved.

State news agency Ria Novosti, released a video showing a platoon of tanks and other military vehicles, travelling in darkness over the Crimean Bridge that connects the peninsula to mainland Russia.

After Stoltenberg dismissed this as proof of a serious, sustained withdrawal, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, promptly hit back, saying there were “problems” with NATO’s analysis.

Moscow, which has backed pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014, claims it has no designs on an invasion.

Still, Moscow’s troop announcements have raised a slight glimmer of hope that the crisis along Ukraine’s border could be easing after weeks of intense diplomacy and threats by the West of punishing sanctions.

But scepticism remains high. Ukraine, the United States, European powers and NATO all suggest they will not take Russia at face value and needed independent confirmation.

Other manoeuvres that have caused alarm continues, such as Russian military exercises in Belarus, which also borders Ukraine.

The defence ministers of the 30 NATO countries, including US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, will discuss plans for additional deterrence against Russia later on Wednesday in Brussels.

NATO allies have been sending more ships, fighter jets and troops into Eastern Europe and putting other soldiers on standby.

Following Moscow’s 2014 Crimean annexation, NATO deployed four battle groups of multinational forces in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.

As well as strengthening existing units, the alliance is also planning to establish new battlegroups on its Russian-facing south-eastern flank, despite demands from Moscow to reverse this eastward expansion. France has already offered to lead a new battlegroup in Romania.

Plans for other new NATO units remain unclear, but diplomatic sources indicate that Russia’s actions will likely require long-term changes to NATO deployments. Some NATO members that border Russia or Ukraine feel threatened, diplomats say.

The 30 allies are expected to announce at the defence ministers meeting in Brussels, their intention to conduct a related review in the coming weeks.

German Defence Minister, Christine Lambrecht, said a decision on permanent adjustments should be made “not in this current situation”, but in a few months “after an intensive examination and scrutiny of the situation at that time.”

Meanwhile, Ukraine was marking a “day of unity” on Wednesday. President Volodymyr Zelensky declared the occasion earlier this week after reports in US media cited February 16 as a day Russia could launch an attack.

State employees are obliged to sing the anthem and classes have been suspended in schools across the country. Television stations are set to broadcast special programmes in the morning and afternoon.

Zelensky spoke in a video of an important day for the country, saying Ukrainians may differ in language and geography but are “united by the desire to live in peace, to live happily.”

Ukrainian government forces have been battling the pro-Russian separatist forces that control the Donbas area of Ukraine’s east for some eight years. According to UN estimates, about 13,000 people have died there since the conflict began.

GNA