The U.S. said there was as yet no evidence that Russian forces in regions bordering Ukraine have started a withdrawal announced by President two days ago. “We have not seen any withdrawal activity as of 2:45 this afternoon, and we’re watching as best we can constantly,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters at a briefing yesterday. “We’ve seen them say this before, we’re going to withdraw, we’re going to move.” Kirby’s comments echo assessments by the Ukrainian government and NATO. Russian state television said yesterday soldiers in three regions had started to return to their bases following Putin’s order. After annexing Crimea in March, Russia has been accused by the government in Kiev and its U.S. and EU allies of fomenting unrest in the mostly Russian-speaking east of Ukraine. Even so, Putin’s welcoming of a dialogue between the Kiev authorities and the regions and the announcement of […]