Putin says 'we don't want war' despite claims of genocide in Ukraine
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Russian president Vladimir Putin has said he does not want a war with Ukraine, but described the situation in the Donbas region of the country as a "genocide".
After hopes Russia could be on the verge of de-escalating tensions, Putin ramped up the rhetoric on Tuesday following a meeting with German chancellor Olaf Scholtz.
Speaking in Moscow, Putin said Russia had decided to partially withdraw troops from near Ukraine and saw some room for further discussion with the West. However, he added: "In our view what is now happening in Donbas is genocide."
It is not the first time Putin has made claims of genocide in the Donbas region, an area in the south east of Ukraine with a population of Russian speaking people.
Diplomatic efforts were made at the end of 2021 to soothe growing unease amid rumours Russia would invade.
Putin also confirmed that some troops were returning to their permanent bases after exercises on the border.
However, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg warned there were "no signs" of "de-escalation on the ground".
Stoltenberg said there was "cautious optimism" that diplomacy attempts with Russia could continue, and a “willingness” from Moscow to “continue to engage”, adding: “We will, of course, follow very closely what’s happening on the ground and whether this is effected in some real de-escalation of the Russian military build-up in and around Ukraine.”
Boris Johnson also warned that intelligence into Russian activity on the border "is still not encouraging".
He said: "We’ve got Russian field hospitals being constructed near the border with Ukraine in Belarus for what can only be construed as for an invasion.
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"We’ve got more battalion tactical groups closer to the border with Ukraine according to the intelligence that we’re seeing.
"Mixed signals I think at the moment and all the more reason therefore for us to remain very tough and very united."
More than 100,000 soldiers were gathered along Ukraine's borders and in the Black Sea this week, sparking increasing fears an attack could happen at any moment.
Tanks, infantry combat vehicles and self-propelled artillery systems were spotted being loaded onto a train and removed from the area.
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Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said: "Units of the Southern and Western Military Districts, which have accomplished their missions, are boarding trains and trucks and will head for their garrisons later today. Some units will join military convoys and will perform self-propelled marches."
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova taunted the West with a social media post as the news was announced.
"February 15, 2022 will go down in history as the day Western war propaganda failed. Humiliated and destroyed without a single shot fired," she said.
Experts have been wary of declaring the situation to be climbing down, amid fears Putin could be trying to deflect attention and mounting a small operation in the south in coming weeks.
Putin denied any incursion into Ukrainian territory was just around the corner in a scripted conversation with his foreign minister Sergey Lavrov broadcast on state television on Monday.
In it, the Russian president asked: “Sergey Viktorovich, in your opinion, is there a chance to agree, to reach an agreement with our partners on key issues that cause our concern, or is it just an attempt to drag us into an endless negotiation process that has no logical conclusion?”
Lavrov replied: "You have already said more than once — you, and other representatives of the Russian Federation — that we warn against endless discussions on issues that need to be resolved today.”
“But still, I must say that there is always a chance.”
UK foreign secretary Liz Truss warned on Tuesday there was "limited time" for Putin to stop a war as she urged him to "step back from the brink" and prevent conflict in Europe.
When asked about the latest prospects of a Russian invasion, Truss said she was "very worried about the situation".
She told Sky News: “We could be on the brink of a war in Europe, which would have severe consequences not just for the people of Russia and Ukraine, but also for the broader security of Europe.
“There is still time for Vladimir Putin to step away from the brink. But there is only a limited amount of time for him to do that.”
US intelligence has suggested an invasion could have come as quickly as Wednesday.
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