Russia’s defense minister has ordered tens of thousands of troops recently deployed close to the border with Ukraine to return to their bases in a move likely to ease immediate fears of a conflict and reduce tensions with the west. Moscow had moved as many as 100,000 troops, alongside tanks, military aircraft, and naval ships, to its border with Ukraine over recent weeks, according to Kyiv, sparking fears of a potential invasion and prompting condemnation from the US and the Nato military alliance. Russia said the troops were conducting exercises and were no threat to anyone.

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defense minister, said on Thursday that the exercises had been completed and that the troops should start to leave the region from Friday. All troops would be back in their original bases by May 1, he added. “I believe that the objectives of the surprise check have been fully achieved,” Shoigu said in a statement. “The troops have demonstrated the ability to provide a reliable defense of the country. In this regard, I made a decision to complete [the exercises].”

Russia’s rouble, which is sensitive to any threat of western sanctions, jumped as much as 1.4 per cent against the dollar on the news. “The reduction of troops on our border proportionally reduces tension,” Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, wrote on Twitter. “Ukraine is always vigilant, yet welcomes any steps to decrease the military presence and de-escalate the situation in [the eastern region on Donbas. Ukraine seeks peace. Grateful to international partners for their support,” he added.

Nato described the Russian announcement as “important and well overdue”.