Most Russia troops withdraw from Ukraine border: NATO

NATO says Russia has withdrawn most of the approximately 40,000 troops amassed along the Ukraine border, calling on Moscow to pull out the rest.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called again on Tuesday for Moscow to remove all remaining forces stationed along the border with Ukraine.

He said the move would mark a first step to de-escalating a crisis.

Russian troop activity continues near the border but “the majority of troops have now pulled back,” an unidentified NATO official confirmed, adding, “A few thousand troops still remain in the vicinity but most of these units appear to be preparing to withdraw.”
This is while Russia has submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), calling for an immediate ceasefire and a humanitarian corridor in Ukraine.

Moscow stated it wants nothing but an end to the violence between the pro-Russians and government forces in Ukraine.

The US State Department, however, censured the draft resolution, claiming that Moscow is doing “nothing” to stop the pro-Russia forces from attacking new targets.

Tensions between Russia and the West heightened after Ukraine’s Crimea joined the Russian Federation following a referendum in March, in which 96.8 percent of the participants voted for union with Russia.

The move sparked angry reactions from the United States and the European Union, both imposing punitive measures against a number of Russian officials and authorities in Crimea.

Ukrainian authorities have ordered military operations against the pro-Russian forces in both eastern and southern Ukraine, claiming that Russian special forces are fueling unrest in the country.