Berlin Urges Russian Troop Withdrawal From Ukrainian Border

Berlin, April 5, IRNA -- The German government here on Friday called for a Russian troop withdrawal from the Ukrainian border aimed at lowering tensions between Kiev and Moscow. Talking at a weekly press briefing, government spokesman, Steffen Seibert, stressed the need for ˈconfidence-building measuresˈ geared at de-escalating the crisis along the Russian-Ukrainian border, saying such a step would be ˈimportant.ˈ Seibert said earlier this week that Russian President, Vladimir Putin, told German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Monday that he had ordered a partial withdrawal of Russian troops from his countryˈs border area with Ukraine. Putin made the comment to Merkel in a phone call about Ukraine, her office said. The Kremlin made also no mention of a withdrawal in its description of the call but said the two leaders discussed Ukraine, including ˈpossibilities for international assistance to restore stability.ˈ Berlin has repeatedly stated there could be no military solution to the Ukrainian crisis, while stepping up diplomatic efforts in recent weeks to end the conflict between the neighboring states./end