Pentagon: Russian troops leaving Ukraine border

At least two-thirds of the Russian troops that gathered along the Ukrainian border have now pulled back, the Pentagon said on Friday, and the remaining forces appear to be leaving.

“The forces that had been on the border are returning to their home bases,” said Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren.

{mosads}Warren stressed that the drawdown does not change the fact that Russia has stirred turmoil in Ukraine with its actions.

“We continue to call on them to work to stabilize Ukraine and to prevent militants from flowing into Ukraine and to help bring a peaceful resolution,” Warren said.

Russian troops annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in March, and President Vladimir Putin had positioned as many as 40,000 troops along the border, sparking fears of a full-blown invasion.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu claimed the Russian troops were conducting maneuvers and exercises. While the Pentagon did observe those exercises taking place, Warren called the troop movements a “show of force” by Russia.

“Certainly it was destabilizing,” he said. “There’s no question that the Russian hand is behind the instability in Ukraine.”