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NATO secretary general welcomes reduction of tensions on Russian-Ukrainian border

Earlier, Kiev and Western countries expressed their concerns over movement of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool via AP

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

© Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool via AP

BRUSSELS, April 27. /TASS/. NATO welcomes the reduction of tensions on the Russian-Ukrainian border that followed the withdrawal of Russian troops from those areas, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Tuesday after talks with Prime Minister Eduard Heger of Slovakia in Brussels.

"We have seen that there have been a reduction of tensions. And, of course, we welcome that. At the same time, we will now monitor the situation and the developments very closely," he said, adding that NATO was concerned about developments it observed near Ukraine’s borders lately.

The NATO secretary general pledged that various support to Kiev would continue.

"NATO allies will continue to help Ukraine with implementing reforms, modernizing their defense and security institutions, and also NATO allies provide all the types of practical support," Stoltenberg said.

Earlier, Kiev and Western countries expressed their concerns over movement of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at the time that the movement of Russian forces across Russian territory should not concern them because they do not threaten anyone. Last Thursday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made a decision to wrap up inspections in Southern and Western Military Districts, saying that all objective have been completed. He ordered to return forces involved in the exercises to their permanent locations before May 1.

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