Despite the announced partial withdrawal of Russian troops from the border, the West still considers the situation in Ukraine to be threatening. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday that he saw no signs of a Russian troop withdrawal. “On the contrary, Russia appears to be increasing its military presence.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden made similar statements after a phone call: Both politicians agreed that there was still a risk of further Russian military aggression against Ukraine, said German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. Highest vigilance is required, a significant withdrawal of Russian troops has not yet been observed.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, there are no signs that Russia is actually implementing the announced partial withdrawal of its troops from the Ukrainian border. “We’re seeing small rotations,” Zelensky said in a televised speech. “I wouldn’t call these rotations a withdrawal of Russian troops.” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also saw “hardly any evidence” that Russian troops were withdrawing.