BELGIUM: NATO commander confirms Russian troop movement from Ukraine border, but says remaining force still large

Record ID: 695055

  • Title: BELGIUM: NATO commander confirms Russian troop movement from Ukraine border, but says remaining force still large
  • Date: 22nd May 2014
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATO HEADQUARTERS
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAAWM6YMLPAEAGIY8EDN0PDPJJA
  • Story Text: NATO's top military commander said on Thursday (May 22) the Russian military force positioned close to the Ukrainian border remains threatening despite some movement of Russian troops.
    Speaking after a meeting of NATO members' heads of defence in Brussels, U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove said a large number of Russian armed forces continued to be deployed close to the country's border with Ukraine.
    "We have seen some movement. It's too early to know where they are moving to or how many of them are moving, but what we do know is that the force that remains on the border is very large and very it's capable and remains in a very coercive posture," Breedlove said.
    The comment confirmed a statement NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen made earlier on Thursday saying the alliance saw limited Russian troop activity near the Ukraine border that may suggest some Russian forces are preparing to withdraw.
    It is the first time during the Ukraine crisis that NATO has given any credence to Russian statements that it is withdrawing troops from near the Ukraine border, where NATO said it had built up a force of around 40,000 soldiers.
    Russia said on Wednesday that troops deployed for exercises near the Ukrainian border had dismantled equipment and were moving to train stations and airfields for return to their permanent bases. The United States and NATO said then they saw no clear signs of a pullout.
    NATO also disputed earlier statements by Moscow that it was withdrawing its troops from the Ukraine border.
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