According to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he will move some troops away from Ukraine’s border. The West has been pressuring Putin to do this for almost a month.
There is no consensus as to how many troops are on the border. Anonymous sources told Fox News between 30,000-100,000 are on the border. Countries in Europe that fear an invasion by Russia will not put the number above 30,000.
The troops caused Ukraine’s new parliament to form a national guard of 60,000 people. Russian soldiers engaged in a few exercises, but Moscow claimed they were to familiarize the soldiers with the land. Russia has said many times there are no plans to invade east Ukraine after it annexed Crimea.
On Sunday, Secretary of State John Kerry met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Paris. Kerry presented many ways Russia could reduce troops on Ukraine’s border. Lavrov did not make any promises to Kerry but said he would hand the proposals over to the Kremlin.
On Monday, Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev visited Crimea. He made stops at hospitals, schools, and parliament. He promised more money from Russia to alleviate any fears of economic troubles under Russia.
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