Putin Withdraws Russian Troops From Ukraine Border

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian troops to return to their bases after training exercises in Rostov region near the Ukrainian border.

 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said defense minister Sergei Shoigu had reported to Putin about the completion of the military exercises on the shooting ranges of the southern military district

 "After the report, Putin ordered to launch the return of the troops to their permanent bases ... in total these are 17,600 military servicemen who were trained on the shooting ranges of Rostov region in summer," Peskov said, reports The Guardian citing RIA Novosti news agency.

Western countries have accused Russia of giving military assistance to the pro- Russian separatists in Ukraine. But Russia has continuously denied the allegations.

Ukrainian military have been fighting pro-Russia separatists especially in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since April. However, Russia and Ukraine signed a ceasefire agreement on Sept. 5.

The ceasefire appears to be in name only as the United Nations said last week that around 331 deaths were recorded in eastern Ukraine since the ceasefire was announced.

According to Alexei Makarkin of the Center for Political Technologies think-tank, the pull out by the Russia army seems likely to be a compromise made by Russia. He opined that Russia made the decision to pull out the troops so that the West may lift a part of the sanctions imposed against it, reports Reuters.

Putin and Ukrainian Prime Minister Poroshenko are expected to hold talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Italy on Friday.

Poroshenko told reporters: "I don't expect the talks will be easy."

"Russia's role in the issue of providing peace... is difficult to overestimate," he added, reports BBC.