Russia-Ukraine Crisis: ‘No war’ said Putin; Troops returning to their garrisons

News Desk: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said that he does not want a war in Europe. He also said that Russia had decided to partially withdraw troops from near Ukraine and saw some room for further discussion with the West on Moscow`s security demands.

Putin described the situation in east Ukraine`s breakaway regions as “genocide” and called for the conflict there to be resolved through the Minsk peace progress.

He, however, said that there had not been a constructive response to Russia’s demands.

On Wednesday, Moscow’s defence ministry in a statement said “Units of the Southern Military District, having completed their participation in tactical exercises, are moving to their permanent deployment points”

State television showed images of military units crossing a bridge linking the Russia controlled peninsula to the mainland.

The statement also said that tanks, infantry vehicles and artillery were leaving Crimea by rail.