Russia pulls most troops from Ukraine border

A Pentagon spokesman says a majority of pro-Russian forces are pulling back from the Ukrainian border and returning to their home bases, a withdrawal that the U.S. has been demanding for weeks and a move that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called “promising.”

“I can confirm that at least two thirds of the Russian forces have repositioned off the border and we are continuing to monitor,” Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren told reporters Friday.

“The remaining forces appear to be packing up and preparing to depart the border as well.  We welcome this. That said, it doesn’t change the fact that the Russians for the last several months have radically destabilized the situation in Ukraine.  They still maintain a significant force presence in Crimea and we continue to call on them to work to stabilize Ukraine, to prevent militants from flowing into Ukraine and to help bring a peaceful resolution,” Col. Warren said.

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