No Sign Of Russia Withdrawal Say Nato

Nato and the U.S. say there is no sign of a withdrawal of Russian troops from areas bordering Ukrine  , The Kremlin earlier announced units in the Kostov , Belgorod and Bryansk areas would return to their permanent bases

Correspondents say removing some of the estimated 40,000 Russian troops could help de escalate the Ukraine crisis , Ukrainiian government forces continued to clash with Pro Russian separatists who have taken over government buildings in Southern and South Eastern Ukraine 

A statement from the Kremlin had said "in connection with the completion of the planned spring phase of military training , at ranges in Rostov , Belgorod and Bryansk regions , President Putin ordered the defence minister to withdraw the troops that took part in the exercises"

No indication was given as to troop numbers or a timetable , however , Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said "unfortunately , we have not seen any evidence at all that Russia has started withdrawal"

"I strongly regret that , because a withdrawal of Russian troops would be a first important contribution to de escalating the crisis" Pentagon spokesman Rear admiral John Kirby told reporters "'we have seen no indication of any movement"

One Senior U.S.official told Agence France Presso that Washington would want to see "clear , firm evidence of this move before we make any judgement"Russia has made two statements about withdrawal in the past 

The Kremlin Statement , also reiterated Moscow's demand that the Kiev administration stop its military activities against the separatists and withdraw it's troops

Kiev said it was checking the reports of a Russian border withdrawal , but also urged Moscow to call off an Air Force exercise planned for South West Russia between Wednesday and Sunday , saying the drills would fuel tension ahead of Sunday's Ukrainian Presidential election

Two Eastern Ukrainian regions , Donetsk and Luhansk , declared independence last week after a referendum , the self proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic on Monday said it would halt all preparations for the Presidential elections on it's soil, deeming the poll "illegal"

Ukraine's P.M. Arseniy Yatsenyuk admitted the polling in some Eastern districts would be difficult , but added "it affects very few areas , the election will take place and we will have a ligitimate President

Mr.. Putin has welcomed initial talks between Kie and some of the separatists anssd has termed the Presidential election a "step in the right direction"'

One Ukrainian soldier was killed and one injured on Monday , in an attack on a checkpoint near Sloviansk ,  in the Donetsk region