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| Ukraine crisis: President Vladimir Putin orders Russian troops to return to home bases | Ukraine crisis: President Vladimir Putin orders Russian troops to return to home bases |
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| Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops deployed near the Ukrainian border to return to their home bases on Monday, the Kremlin said in a statement. | Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops deployed near the Ukrainian border to return to their home bases on Monday, the Kremlin said in a statement. |
| The order came after pro-Russian insurgents fired on a Ukrainian army check point outside the eastern city of Slovyansk, killing one soldier and wounding three, Ukraine's defence ministry said. | |
| Mr Putin urged the Ukrainian authorities to immediately end what Kiev is calling an "anti-terror operation". | Mr Putin urged the Ukrainian authorities to immediately end what Kiev is calling an "anti-terror operation". |
| In the Kremlin’s statement, Mr Putin said he had told Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to withdraw forces taking part in “planned spring” drills in the Rostov, Belgorod and Bryansk regions. | In the Kremlin’s statement, Mr Putin said he had told Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to withdraw forces taking part in “planned spring” drills in the Rostov, Belgorod and Bryansk regions. |
| A fortnight ago, the Russian President made a similar statement, in which he said that troops were being pulled back from the border to shooting ranges. | A fortnight ago, the Russian President made a similar statement, in which he said that troops were being pulled back from the border to shooting ranges. |
| But at the time, Western powers said that there was no indication that Russia’s military presence was de-escalating. | But at the time, Western powers said that there was no indication that Russia’s military presence was de-escalating. |
| On Monday, Nato said that it did not see any immediate movements to validate Russia’s latest assertions. | On Monday, Nato said that it did not see any immediate movements to validate Russia’s latest assertions. |
| While the statement did not specify how many or how quickly the troops will be removed, a fulfillment of the order would appear to signal an attempt by Moscow to de-escalate the worst crisis in its relations with the West since the Cold War. | While the statement did not specify how many or how quickly the troops will be removed, a fulfillment of the order would appear to signal an attempt by Moscow to de-escalate the worst crisis in its relations with the West since the Cold War. |
| Earlier in May, separatists held unofficial referendums in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, which were declared to be landslide victory for independence. The regions have since been renamed ‘People’s Republics.’ | Earlier in May, separatists held unofficial referendums in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, which were declared to be landslide victory for independence. The regions have since been renamed ‘People’s Republics.’ |
| Mr Putin’s command follows travel bans and asset freezes imposed on members of his entourage by the US and EU over Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March. | Mr Putin’s command follows travel bans and asset freezes imposed on members of his entourage by the US and EU over Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March. |
| The Western powers threatened to target entire sectors of the Russian economy with sanctions if Moscow tried to derail Ukraine's presidential vote set for Sunday. | The Western powers threatened to target entire sectors of the Russian economy with sanctions if Moscow tried to derail Ukraine's presidential vote set for Sunday. |
| The West and Kiev has accused Moscow of attempting to disrupt peace in the region, since pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings in eastern Ukraine and fought government troops – a charge that Russia has denied. | The West and Kiev has accused Moscow of attempting to disrupt peace in the region, since pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings in eastern Ukraine and fought government troops – a charge that Russia has denied. |
| Faced with heavier Western sanctions, Mr Putin supported a peace plan for settling the crisis, which was brokered by the Swiss chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. | Faced with heavier Western sanctions, Mr Putin supported a peace plan for settling the crisis, which was brokered by the Swiss chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. |
| By offering an amnesty for those involved in the unrest and urging talks on decentralization and the status of the Russian language, the OSCE road map aims to end the violence in Ukraine and de-escalate tensions ahead of the country’s Presidential election. | By offering an amnesty for those involved in the unrest and urging talks on decentralization and the status of the Russian language, the OSCE road map aims to end the violence in Ukraine and de-escalate tensions ahead of the country’s Presidential election. |
| The first round table talks under the plan were held in Ukraine last week, but the government refused to invite representatives of rebels in the east, whom it dubbed “separatists” and “terrorists.” | The first round table talks under the plan were held in Ukraine last week, but the government refused to invite representatives of rebels in the east, whom it dubbed “separatists” and “terrorists.” |
| Additional reporting by AP | Additional reporting by AP |