Russia said on Wednesday that it was returning more troops and weapons deployed along the border to its bases, in a sign of easing tensions over its conflict over Ukraine. However, the US and some of its NATO allies are strictly following the matter.
On Tuesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that some units participating in the military exercise would begin returning to their bases. It came after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, where he reportedly demanded from Russia “clear steps to defuse current tensions”.
Russia wants the West to keep Ukraine and other former Soviet countries out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), stop the deployment of weapons near its borders and withdraw troops from Eastern Europe. The failure of diplomatic talks prompted Russia to deploy its troops near Ukraine, prompting the US and its allies to think about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, Russia has denied any invasion plans and called it the “hysteria” and “madness” of the West.
Here are today’s top ten developments on the Russia-Ukraine conflict
1. After a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, Vladimir Putin said he was ready to take a diplomatic route to defuse tensions with the West. Putin said the West had agreed to discuss a ban on missile deployments, a ban on military exercises and other confidence building measures.
Putin said Russia was ready to discuss “some of those elements”, but added that it would only do so “in conjunction with core issues that are of primary importance to us”.
Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is ready to take a diplomatic route to end tensions with the West. (Photo: Reuters)
2. After Vladimir Putin’s meeting with the German chancellor on Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday released a video of armored vehicles crossing a bridge on a train off Crimea. The Russian military, however, did not specify the number of troops or weapons being withdrawn from the border.
A scene shows a freight train carrying Russian military vehicles leaving the Crimean peninsula towards the Russian mainland along a railway bridge in the Kerch Strait, in this still image taken from video released on February 16, 2022 has gone. (Photo: Reuters)
3. Even as it claimed to have pulled some troops from the Ukrainian front, Russia continued to engage in training missions on Belarus, which is neighboring Ukraine to the north. Russian fighter jets flew training missions over Belarus and paratroopers conducted shooting exercises at firing ranges. The West fears it could be used as cover for a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
However, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Meki reaffirmed that all Russian troops would leave the country by Sunday after the military exercises were over.
4. US President Joe Biden said the White House was skeptical of Russia’s claim to pull troops from the border, adding that “an invasion is clearly possible”.
“An invasion is obviously possible. That’s why I’ve asked several times that all Americans in Ukraine now leave before it’s too late to leave safely. That’s why we temporarily moved from Kiev to Lviv in western Ukraine.” has moved its embassy in, near the Polish border,” Joe Biden said.
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5. Joe Biden also said that the US is still open to diplomacy to resolve the conflict. “We are prepared with diplomacy – to engage in diplomacy with Russia and our allies and partners to improve stability and security across Europe. And we are prepared to respond decisively to a Russian attack on Ukraine, which There’s still a lot of potential,” he said.
6. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace also agreed with Joe Biden’s view. On Russia’s claim to withdraw troops, he said, “It is too early to tell.” He added that the Russians “have not had a foot of gas”.
“I think what we haven’t seen is evidence of the return that the Kremlin has claimed,” the Associated Press quoted Ben Wallace as saying. “Indeed, we’ve seen continued construction of things like field hospitals and strategic weapons systems. Until we see a proper de-escalation, I think we should all be cautious about the direction of travel from the Kremlin.” “
A member of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service stands guard at the Goptovka crossing point on the border between Russia and Ukraine in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. (Photo: Reuters)
7. Ukraine has also cast doubt on Russia’s claim. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba said, “We have one rule in Ukraine: we don’t believe what we hear, we believe what we see. If these statements are followed by a real comeback, we Will believe in the beginning of real de-escalation.”
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8. Meanwhile, China has accused the US of “threatening war and creating tension”. “Such constant propaganda and propaganda by some Western countries will create unrest and uncertainty in a world full of challenges and intensify crisis and division,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Wang Wenbin said, “We hope that the relevant parties will stop such propaganda and make more efforts to benefit peace, mutual trust and cooperation.”
9. Amidst Russia-Ukraine tensions, India is considering increasing the number of flights between India and Ukraine Even the parents of some Indian students in Ukraine expressed concern over the current situation in the country.
“Discussions are on with civil aviation authorities and various airlines on how to increase the number of flights between India and Ukraine,” sources told India Today TV.
10. Russia’s claim to withdraw troops came as a relief in oil prices as markets suffered losses on Wednesday. According to Reuters, Brent crude was up $1.37, or 1.5%, at $94.65 a barrel around 1200 GMT, falling 3.3 per cent overnight. Both benchmarks hit their highest levels since September 2014 on Monday, with Brent reaching $96.78 and WTI at $95.82.
(With inputs from The Associated Press, Reuters)
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