ISLAMABAD: China has slammed the western countries for creating a hype of war between Russia and Ukraine.
On Tuesday (Feb 15), Russia announced pull pack of its troops stationed at Ukraine border, saying the military drills have been accomplished. International crude oil prices have dropped 4 percent, falling around $90/barrel on the day the Russian government announced troops withdrawal.
However, NATO has urged Russia to given an evidence of pulling back its troops from Ukraine’s border.
NATO military alliance’s secretary-general said warning of signs still show that Moscow was deploying more forces near Ukraine border.
“It remains to be seen whether there is a Russian withdrawal … What we see is that they have increased the number of troops, and more troops are on the way,” Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Wednesday at the start of a two-day meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels.
His remarks came as Russia said more of the estimated 100,000 plus soldiers it has deployed near Ukraine in recent months were withdrawing after Moscow initially announced a partial pullback a day earlier.
Meanwhile, Ukrainians were marking “a day of unity” called for by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid claims from the United States that Russia may be readying to invade imminently.
NATO ‘firmly believes Russia is poised to invade’
Like other western countries, NATO’s position on Russia’s military buildup has not changed despite Moscow’s announcement of a pullback.
“The alliance firmly believes that Russia is poised to potentially invade Ukraine,” he said.
Barker also described the meeting of NATO defence ministers in the Belgian capital as a “chance for them to reconnect with the mothership and consolidate their stance” over the crisis.
