Russia's military exercise in Crimea ends, soldiers returning

 

Russia has announced an end to ongoing military exercises in Crimea and said troops are withdrawing. The news agency AFP has given this report. Russian state media have shown pictures and videos of soldiers returning. Earlier on February 15, there were reports that some Russian troops had been withdrawn, although Russia's military exercises with Belarus are continuing.

Putin said we don't want war

 

Russian President Putin has said that he does not want war and has offered a proposal for talks, but so far no concrete response has been received on Russia's proposal. US President Joe Biden has said Moscow may still attack Kiev with Russia withdrawing some troops. However, Vladimir Putin has consistently denied attacking Ukraine.

Officials in many Western countries, including the US, have warned that Russia can attack Ukraine at any time. For the past few days, diplomats of Western countries and Russia have met several times regarding Ukraine but no agreement has been reached.

 

Voting in Russian Parliament to recognize eastern Ukraine as an independent country

Meanwhile, the lower house of the Russian parliament has voted on President Vladimir Putin to recognize two Russian-backed separate regions in eastern Ukraine as independent. However, speaking to the media in Moscow, Putin declined to comment on how he plans to react. He said that the Russians sympathize with the residents of the Donbass region, but wanted the region's problems to be resolved through the Minsk Agreement.