Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday welcomed Russia’s partial troop withdrawal from the Ukrainian border, labelling it a “good sign”, and noted that lasting stability and security in Europe could only be achieved with Russia’s help.
In the first apparent de-escalation in weeks, Moscow on Tuesday announced that some of the more than 100,000 troops and hardware amassed along Ukraine’s border were returning to their bases at the end of planned exercises. Western leaders have accused Moscow of positioning the troops in advance of a possible invasion of pro-Western Ukraine, warning that any attack would be met with severe economic sanctions.
