Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Russian troops are reported to have started their troop withdrawal from the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, Wednesday (30/3/2022) morning local time. The troops were withdrawn to be transferred to other areas.
quote CNBC International, Press Secretary of the United States Department of Defense (US) John Kirby said that this withdrawal was a strategic change made by Moscow. Washington believes this move is a repositioning of troops.
Since invading Ukraine on February 24, Russia has not been able to reach and control the capital Kyiv. The Pentagon said Moscow was currently focused on controlling the Donbass region, which the Kremlin currently claims as territory that no longer belongs to Ukraine.
“Until now, we are still assessing that their plan is to occupy and annex Ukraine using a three-line approach. Now we think they will prioritize eastern Ukraine,” he said.
Russia itself claims to have reduced the number of their armed forces in Ukraine. This was stated by Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, who spoke after Russia-Ukraine peace talks took place in Turkey.
However, another Russian negotiator said this was not a “truce”. This is only a gradual military de-escalation in two “main directions”.
“We understand that there are people in Kyiv who need to make decisions, so we don’t want to put the city at additional risk,” said Russian representative Vladimir Medinsky. CNN.
Meanwhile, The Fletcher School Assistant Professor of International History at Tufts University, Christopher Miller said the troop withdrawal from Kyiv was a “shifting” issue. He called this to “cover up” the fact that troops had been pushed back by Ukrainian troops there.
“(The announcement) is just a statement of the military reality that Ukraine has pushed them back,” Miller told “Squawk Box Asia” CNBC International.
However, he stressed, the situation on the ground is very much to be confirmed. Moreover, the fact is that there are always changes.
“I don’t think we’re anywhere near the end of the war at this point,” Miller said.
The Russo-Ukrainian war has been going on since February 24. More than 1000 people have died and nearly 4 million people, according to UN data, have been displaced.
(boss / boss)
–
