Russian retreat from Kiev is not a real withdrawal, NATO secretary general tells CNN

The secretary general of natoJens Stoltenberg, said in an interview with CNN this Sunday (3) that the withdrawal of Russian troops from Kiev it is not an actual retreat, but rather a repositioning that can be followed by further attacks.

According to him, Russian forces are being resupplied and rearmed, so it is not possible to “be too optimistic”. “The attacks will continue and we also have concerns of larger attacks in the eastern and southern regions,” he said, pointing to a change in strategy.

Stoltenberg also condemned what he called “brutality against civilians” in referring to images of at least 20 civilians killed and exposed in Ukrainian city from Bucha.

“We haven’t seen this in Europe for decades, it’s horrible and totally unacceptable that civilians are targeted and killed this way,” he said.

He said the war “must end” and that it is President Vladimir Putin’s responsibility to end the conflict. Stoltenberg argued for an investigation by the International Criminal Court (TPI) to assess possible war crimes in Ukraine, with the perpetrators of these acts being held accountable.

THE Ukraine said on Saturday (2) that recovered all areas around Kievclaiming full control of the capital region for the first time since the Russia launched the invasion.

The announcement came as Russian forces regrouped for battles in the east. Russia has described its withdrawal of forces near Kiev as a gesture of goodwill in the peace negotiations.

Ukraine and its allies say Russia was forced to shift its focus eastward after suffering heavy losses near Kiev.

Since deploying troops on February 24 in what it calls a “special operation” to demilitarize its neighbour, Russia has failed to capture a single major city and has instead besieged urban areas, uprooting a quarter of Ukraine’s population.