Kyiv, Europe Brief News – Russia’s defence ministry said early on Tuesday that some troops positioned on the border with Ukraine are returning to their bases after completing drills.
His statements raised hopes of possible de-escalation after Russia’s foreign minister said diplomacy was “far from exhausted.”
The EU meanwhile says it is willing to discuss Moscow’s security concerns.
But it warns a key Russian gas pipeline to Germany would “not become operational” in the event of war.
Germany’s leader Olaf Scholz will meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow later today after visiting Kyiv on Monday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold a Cobra meeting later to discuss the UK’s response.
Russia, which denies it plans to invade, wants assurances Ukraine will never be allowed to join the Nato defence alliance.
Germany has been a significant contributor of non-military aid to Ukraine over the years. It supported the US decision for putting up troops in Poland and Romania to fulfil its commitment to NATO.
Biden has stationed extra US troops to Germany, Poland and Romania to take total control of the ongoing situation.
In 2015, Germany and France came forward and plain a foundation for a peace deal for eastern Ukraine to give an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russian forces.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed for another four-way Normandy summit, but the kremlin said these efforts would only make any difference if both parties agree to give special status to the rebel east.
