Baku – APA. Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian forces operating along the border with Ukraine to return to their bases, APA reports quoting Interfax.
It is the second time Mr Putin has said Russian forces are being pulled back, with the Russian President announcing on May 7 that they had been "withdrawn". Kremlin press spokesman said that troops involved in "planned spring" exercises in the Rostov, Belgorod and Bryansk regions have been ordered back to their barracks.
Putin has previously said he has ordered troops to return from the area near the Ukraine border, but the United States and NATO have said they see no sign of a pullout and have threatened more sanctions if Russia tries to derail Ukraine's presidential vote set for Sunday.