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Large Numbers of Russian Troops Said to Leave Ukraine, but Remain Nearby NATO Says Russia Pulled Some Troops From Ukraine
(about 3 hours later)
BRUSSELS — Russia has withdrawn a large number of troops from Ukraine, but maintains a significant force near the border that could quickly re-enter the country, NATO officials said Wednesday. BRUSSELS — Russia has withdrawn a large number of troops from Ukraine, but maintains a significant force near the border that could quickly re-enter the country, NATO officials said Wednesday.
The assessment signaled growing confidence that the conflict between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russia rebels in the east and the south could be easing, at least for now. Still, a renewed bout of fighting remained a possibility, and NATO was keeping up its enhanced presence at the eastern borders of the alliance.The assessment signaled growing confidence that the conflict between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russia rebels in the east and the south could be easing, at least for now. Still, a renewed bout of fighting remained a possibility, and NATO was keeping up its enhanced presence at the eastern borders of the alliance.
“We have seen a reduction in incidents and of Russian regular troops inside Ukraine,” Carmen Romero, a NATO spokeswoman, said in a statement. “But some Russian special forces remain in Ukraine, plus there remains a substantial Russian military presence on the border.“We have seen a reduction in incidents and of Russian regular troops inside Ukraine,” Carmen Romero, a NATO spokeswoman, said in a statement. “But some Russian special forces remain in Ukraine, plus there remains a substantial Russian military presence on the border.
“So while we welcome all genuine efforts to achieve a peaceful solution, Russia is keeping the option to destabilize Ukraine,” she said.“So while we welcome all genuine efforts to achieve a peaceful solution, Russia is keeping the option to destabilize Ukraine,” she said.
On Sept. 5, the Ukrainian government and the separatists signed a cease-fire agreement laid out by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, whom Western leaders have accused of provoking unrest eto keep Ukraine in Moscow’s orbit. Russia has not acknowledged the presence of any military personnel on Ukrainian soil, but last month NATO said it had evidence that Russia was moving artillery units and soldiers across the border and firing on Ukrainian soldiers. On Sept. 5, the Ukrainian government and the separatists signed a cease-fire agreement laid out by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Russia has not acknowledged the presence of any military personnel on Ukrainian soil, but last month NATO said it had evidence that Russia was moving artillery units and soldiers across the border and firing on Ukrainian soldiers.
The statement did not say when the withdrawals began, but a military official in Europe who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the intelligence said they started after the cease-fire took effect. They began slowly and by the end of last week the majority of Russian troops had been withdrawn, the official said.The statement did not say when the withdrawals began, but a military official in Europe who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the intelligence said they started after the cease-fire took effect. They began slowly and by the end of last week the majority of Russian troops had been withdrawn, the official said.
Incidents of artillery fire and other hostilities between Ukrainian and separatist forces have also declined, according to a more detailed assessment from Lt. Col. Jay Janzen, the chief of media operations for the central command for NATO’s military forces. Exchanges of artillery fire and other hostilities between Ukrainian and separatist forces have also declined, according to a more detailed assessment from Lt. Col. Jay Janzen, the chief of media operations for the central command for NATO’s military forces.
Colonel Janzen said it was hard to determine how many Russian troops remained inside Ukraine, as the separatists controlled several border crossings and troops routinely moved back and forth. But he noted that thousands of Russian troops remained in the vicinity of the border, adding, “Russian special forces are operating in Ukraine, and they are difficult to detect.” Colonel Janzen said it was hard to determine how many Russian troops remained inside Ukraine, as the separatists controlled several border crossings and troops routinely moved back and forth.
With the Russian economy already sputtering, in part from the effects of Western sanctions, Japan on Wednesday imposed limited new sanctions against Russia over the unrest in Ukraine, moving to stay in line with its Western allies even as it tries to keep alive a proposed summit meeting with Mr. Putin.With the Russian economy already sputtering, in part from the effects of Western sanctions, Japan on Wednesday imposed limited new sanctions against Russia over the unrest in Ukraine, moving to stay in line with its Western allies even as it tries to keep alive a proposed summit meeting with Mr. Putin.
The new sanctions include a tightening of restrictions on exports of Japanese weapons, a largely symbolic move since Japan sells few arms to Russia. Five Russian banks were also barred from selling new securities in Japan, said the top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.The new sanctions include a tightening of restrictions on exports of Japanese weapons, a largely symbolic move since Japan sells few arms to Russia. Five Russian banks were also barred from selling new securities in Japan, said the top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was “disappointed” by Japan’s move. “We consider this unfriendly step as new evidence of the Japanese side’s inability to independently build up its foreign policy,” the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. “Our position remains unchanged — unilateral sanctions are illegitimate and never reach their goal.” The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was “disappointed” by Japan’s move.
It was the third round of sanctions that Japan has imposed on Russia this year, following a move in August to freeze financial assets held in Japan by 40 Russian individuals and groups who Japan says support the separatists. The first round of sanctions, in March, included a ban on visits to Japan by two dozen Russians also linked to the unrest. It was the third round of sanctions that Japan has imposed this year, following a move in August to freeze financial assets held in Japan by 40 Russian individuals and groups who Japan says support the separatists.
Japan has been widely seen as moving more slowly and imposing more modest sanctions on Russia than the United States and other G-7 nations for fear of endangering talks that it is seeking with Russia on issues like energy cooperation and a long-festering territorial dispute.Japan has been widely seen as moving more slowly and imposing more modest sanctions on Russia than the United States and other G-7 nations for fear of endangering talks that it is seeking with Russia on issues like energy cooperation and a long-festering territorial dispute.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan spoke by telephone with Mr. Putin, according to Japanese news reports. During the call, Mr. Abe proposed holding a summit meeting in November on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperations forum in Beijing, the reports said. On Sunday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan spoke by telephone with Mr. Putin, according to Japanese news reports. During the call, Mr. Abe proposed holding a summit meeting in November on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s forum in Beijing, the reports said.
Mr. Abe had invited the Russian president to come to Tokyo as early as this fall, a visit that looks increasing unlikely, as Japan has felt obligated to join in tightening sanctions. Before the Ukrainian crisis, Japanese officials spoke optimistically of seeking a breakthrough in a decades-old dispute over the control of islands that lie between Russia and the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.Mr. Abe had invited the Russian president to come to Tokyo as early as this fall, a visit that looks increasing unlikely, as Japan has felt obligated to join in tightening sanctions. Before the Ukrainian crisis, Japanese officials spoke optimistically of seeking a breakthrough in a decades-old dispute over the control of islands that lie between Russia and the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.
That would be a rare diplomatic victory for Mr. Abe, whose nationalist views have isolated Japan from two of its other neighbors, South Korea and China.