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Ukraine president says Russian troop withdrawal reduces tension
Hattip g(r)omgoru.
[Jpost] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday welcomed a reduction of Russian troops on Ukraine's border but said Kyiv would remain vigilant.

Russia earlier announced it was ordering troops back to base from the area near the border with Ukraine, apparently calling an end to a buildup of tens of thousands of soldiers that had alarmed the West.

"The reduction of troops on our border proportionally reduces tension," Zelenskiy wrote on Twitter. "Ukraine is always vigilant, yet welcomes any steps to decrease the military presence & deescalate the situation in Donbass."
The Times of Israel adds:
Russia’s defense minister Sergei Shoigu orders troops back to their permanent bases following massive drills amid tensions with Ukraine, but says that they should leave their weapons behind in western Russia for another exercise later this year.

"I consider the goals of the snap check of readiness fulfilled," Shoigu says. "The troops have shown their capability to defend the country and I decided to complete the drills in the South and Western military districts."

Shoigu says the troops should return to their bases by May 1, but he ordered to keep the heavy weapons deployed to western Russia as part of the drills for another massive military exercise later this year.
Posted by: trailing wife 2021-04-23
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=600217