NATO: Alliance remains vigilant and will continue to closely monitor Russia’s unjustified military build-up in and around Ukraine

Russia’s announcement on Thursday that it was ordering troops back to base from the area near the border with Ukraine is important and timely, - stated NATO official, according to Reuters.

"Any steps towards de-escalation by Russia would be important and well overdue. NATO remains vigilant and we will continue to closely monitor Russia’s unjustified military build-up in and around Ukraine", - the NATO official told Reuters.

According to NATO official, the Alliance stands with Ukraine and calls on Russia to withdraw all its forces from Ukraine.

For the record, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated yesterday that the process of sudden inspections in the southern and western military districts of the country is over and the army will return to the place of permanent dislocation.