Russia’s claims of withdrawal must be taken with deep scepticism. Yesterday, Alexander Fomin, Moscow’s deputy minister of defence, said his forces would “fundamentally cut back” operations near the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Chernihiv “to increase trust” in talks between the two countries. Of course, the last time Moscow said it was withdrawing its troops, it promptly invaded Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky was unmoved. Meanwhile, western intelligence suggests that while Russia has begun moving a small number of troops away from positions around Kyiv, it was more akin to a repositioning than a retreat or withdrawal. There are suggestions too that Vladimir Putin might use any pause as an opportunity to resupply his depleted forces.
