Ukraine Says Most Russian Troops Have Moved Back Across Border [View all]
Source: Guardian UK
Luke Harding, and agencies in Kiev
theguardian.com, Wednesday 10 September 2014 09.56 EDT
Kiev says Russia has now largely withdrawn its forces, following a major military offensive last month that pushed back Ukrainian troops and gave separatist rebels the upper hand.
Speaking in a televised cabinet meeting, President Petro Poroshenko said: "According to the latest information I have received from our intelligence, 70% of Russian troops have been moved back across the border. This further strengthens our hope that the peace initiatives have good prospects."
Ukraine and the west have repeatedly accused Russia of fuelling the five-month pro-Russian rebellion with arms, vehicles and undercover Russian troops. Moscow denies the claim. In late August, Nato estimated that more than 1,000 Russian soldiers were operating covertly inside Ukraine, as part of a major separatist effort to roll back advances by Kiev.
Poroshenko said parts of east Ukraine would be given special status. He stressed, however, that Ukraine would remain a sovereign and united entity, under the terms of a peace deal agreed in Minsk last Friday.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/10/ukraine-russia-troops-border-east-poroshenko
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