Russia confirms ‘partial’ withdrawal of troops from Ukraine border

Move could be sign of de-escalation but western officials say there are no immediate signs of Russian drawdown

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Vladimir Putin has confirmed a partial" drawdown of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border, in a step that could begin a de-escalation of tensions but has left western officials sceptical that the Kremlin has ruled out an attack in the near future.

The size of the withdrawal remains unclear and it may involve only a fraction of Russia's forces at the border, which western officials estimate at more than 130,000 troops, at least 60% of the country's ground forces.