Russia withdraws some units from Ukraine border. De-escalation not confirmed

The defense ministry in Moscow said Tuesday that Russia has started returning southern and western military units from the Ukraine border to their bases, but the drills involving nearly all districts and the Russian Navy continue, such as a large joint Russia-Belarus drill, due to end on 20 February. A clip was posted showing tanks, self-propelled howitzers leaving the site of the drills. Russian president spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that this was a regular movement and there was “nothing new.” NATO chief said he hasn’t seen de-escalation yet but that signals from Moscow give some cause for optimism

“When we see a withdrawal, we will believe in a de-escalation,” Ukraine’s foreign minister said. A Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said the day “will go into history as the day western war propaganda failed. They have been disgraced and destroyed without a single shot being fired.”