The Russian Defence Ministry said that the drills were over and that its troops had withdrawn from the Ukrainian border. At the same time, Russian media reported, despite this, the exercises continue in several directions.
"As the combat training activities end, the troops, as always, will march in a combined manner to their permanent deployment points. Subunits of the Southern and Western Military Districts that have completed their tasks have already started loading onto rail and road transport and will start moving to their military garrisons today," said Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.
It is noted that some units will march on their own as part of military columns.
Konashenkov also reported that military defense attaches at foreign embassies in Belarus will observe the last stage of the Russian-Belarusian exercise "Union Resolute" at the Obuz-Lesnevsky training ground.
Despite this, the Russian Armed Forces continue a set of large-scale activities of operational training of troops and forces, in which almost all military districts, fleets and Airborne Forces are involved.
"Almost all military districts, fleets and airborne troops are taking part in them. A series of naval exercises are being conducted in operationally important areas of the world ocean and waters of the seas adjacent to the territory of Russia, involving surface ships, submarines and naval aviation," Konashenkov said.
Ukraine will believe in de-escalation near its borders when it sees the withdrawal of Russian troops. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this during a briefing.
"Different statements are constantly heard from the Russian Federation, so we already have a rule: not "we will hear, then we will believe," but "we will see, then we will believe." If we see the withdrawal, we will believe in de-escalation," the diplomat replied.
It should be noted that the day before, Moscow said it was ready to continue negotiations with Western countries on the so-called "security guarantees" and de-escalation around Ukraine.
