'We'll believe Putin's withdrawal when we see it': NATO cautiously declares victory in battle to stop Russia invading Ukraine while Moscow claims it has 'disgraced' the West - hours after US intelligence warned troops were in 'attack positions'
NATO chief says room for 'cautious optimism' around Ukraine after Russia said it is withdrawing some troops
Kiev remains skeptical, with the defence minister warning: 'Don't believe what you hear, believe what you see'
Russian announcement came hours after Washington warned tanks were moving into final attack positions
Observers and those on the ground say they have not seen any evidence yet of Russian forces moving away
Olaf Scholz is in Moscow for face-to-face talks with Putin, the latest leader to try and de-escalate the crisis
By Chris Pleasance for MailOnline and Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com
Published: 01:09 EST, 15 February 2022 | Updated: 09:29 EST, 15 February 2022
Russia's announcement that it will withdraw some of its troops from the Ukrainian border was welcomed with cautious optimism by NATO and the West today - with observers warning that the apparent de-escalation is yet to be confirmed by movements on the ground.
Jens Stoltenburg, NATO chief executive, said there is room for 'cautious optimism' after weeks of escalating tensions - amid signs from Russia that the diplomatic route to ending the crisis has not yet been closed off.
But he also warned that Putin still maintains a large military presence near Ukraine, has the ability to attack at short notice, and that there has been no evidence yet of a drawn-down of forces - despite Moscow claiming some units are leaving after training exercises.
He remarks echo those of Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's defence minister, who said that Kiev and its Western allies have prevented any 'further escalation' of tensions but added: 'We have a rule: don't believe what you hear, believe what you see. When we see a withdrawal, we will believe in a de-escalation.'
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was equally skeptical, saying that Russia continues to build field hospitals which 'can only be construed as preparations' for an attack - urging Putin to stop sending 'mixed signals' while calling for Western allies to remain 'tough and united'.
News of the withdrawal came just hours after dire warnings out of Washington that Russian tanks and troops were being moved to final attack positions, and that rocket batteries and artillery units had been moved within range of their targets. One official event went so far as to suggest the invasion had been scheduled for 3am Wednesday.
Moscow attempted to dismiss those warnings as 'war propaganda' today, with a spokesman saying: 'February 15, 2022 will go into history as the day western war propaganda failed. They have been disgraced and destroyed without a single shot being fired'
Amid the standoff, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz became the latest world leader to visit Moscow on Tuesday - given the same 'long table treatment' as Emmanuel Macron received last week as he sat down for face-to-face talks with Putin aimed at resolving the crisis.
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