NATO Secretary General: "Russia Cannot Prove Withdrawal by Troop Movements Alone"

Western countries remain cautious, observing no large-scale troop withdrawals

On the 15th (local time), a soldier in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, is firing an NLAW anti-tank weapon during training in preparation for a Russian invasion. The NLAW is a next-generation anti-tank weapon system provided to Ukraine by the United Kingdom. AP=Yonhap News Photo

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] As Russia announced the withdrawal of troops from the border area with Ukraine, suspicions about the troop withdrawal claims are being raised, especially in Europe.

According to major foreign media on the 16th (local time), Jens Stoltenberg, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Secretary General, repeatedly urged Russia to prove the withdrawal of troops from the border area with Ukraine. Before the NATO defense ministers' meeting held in Brussels, Belgium, Stoltenberg told reporters, "We need to see whether Russia is actually withdrawing troops," adding, "What we are seeing is that they have increased their forces and additional troops are on the move."

He continued, "If they have truly started to withdraw troops, that would be welcome," but added, "They always move troops. Therefore, just seeing the movement of troops and battle tanks does not confirm a genuine withdrawal."

Ben Wallace, UK Secretary of State for Defence, also expressed skepticism about Russia's withdrawal claims, stating that no evidence of Russian troops withdrawing from the Ukraine border area has been found.

Wallace made these remarks in an interview with Sky News before the NATO defense ministers' meeting.

He explained, "Russia announced that some troops who completed training were sent back to their bases, but when training, they do not set up blood banks, field hospitals, or move strategic weapons."

Wallace added, "We will believe Russia's words but judge by their actions," and said, "Until we see appropriate de-escalation, we must watch where the Kremlin moves."

Earlier, Russia announced on the 15th, a day before the 16th which the US had identified as the expected invasion date, that some units that completed training near the Ukraine border were returning.

However, Western countries have not observed any significant scale of troop withdrawal and remain vigilant.

NATO defense ministers from member countries are scheduled to focus on discussing the Ukraine crisis during the two-day NATO defense ministers' meeting starting today.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.