President ordered Russian troops near the Ukrainian border back to base, the state-run RIA news service reported, signaling a possible easing of tensions six days before Ukraine’s presidential election. Putin ordered forces in the Rostov, Belgorod and Bryansk regions to return to their bases after completing exercises, RIA said today, citing the presidential press service. Putin, who discussed the situation in Ukraine with his Security Council today, welcomed contacts last week between the government in Kiev and supporters of greater powers for the country’s regions, including the Russian-speaking east, RIA reported. The comments come as Ukrainian forces continued skirmishes with insurgents in the east after pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions said they planned their own elections later this year. Putin, whom the Ukrainian government accuses of fomenting unrest in the east and who annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March, promised a withdrawal of Russian forces from […]