Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered thousands of troops stationed near the Ukrainian border to return to their bases, Russian media report.
Mr. Putin’s spokesman said about 17,600 soldiers on training exercises in the Rostov region would be pulled back.
Russia has previously announced troop withdrawals that
NATO and the United States said were not actually carried out.
Russia has been accused of supplying troops and weapons to separatist rebels in east Ukraine – claims it denies.
The BBC reports that the latest order comes ahead of a planned meeting between Mr. Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday.
Ukrainian troops have been fighting pro-Russia rebels in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since April, in a conflict that has killed more than 3,500 people.
The two sides agreed a truce on September 5, but fighting has continued, especially in and around Donetsk.
“[Mr.] Putin has ordered to start the returning of troops to regular station,” presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in quotes carried by Interfax and Ria Novosti news agencies.
Mr. Peskov said this was because the period of training was completed.
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