U.S., NATO wary of Russian troop reduction claim

On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said it would pull back some of the 150,000 troops and weapons surrounding Ukraine’s borders. It released videos showing tanks driving away from Ukraine as proof. But the United States and NATO allies said they saw no sign that Russia was drawing down its forces. Britain’s defense secretary warned that he sees a buildup of field hospitals and strategic weapons systems instead, and a senior U.S. administration official said the West detected 7,000 new Russian troops near Ukraine in recent days.

What’s happening in Ukraine? Cyberattacks crippled at least 10 Ukrainian websites including those of the defense ministry, the army, and Ukraine’s two largest state banks on Tuesday. The Kremlin denied any involvement, but a National Security and Defense Council official blamed Russia. It will likely be months before a culprit is positively identified. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared Wednesday a “Day of National Unity,” and Ukrainians waved flags out windows and played the national anthem.

Dig deeper: Read Leigh Jones’ report in The Sift on how Russia is responding to diplomacy.