General Philip Mark Breedlove, who is the leader of the U.S. European Command, and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, has reported that Russian troops are still stationed in the Ukraine while at a press conference held in Belgium.
The four-star general told the press that though the majority of Russian forces have withdrawn, no one can deny that there are still Russian troops stationed in the eastern areas of the Ukraine. Most of these forces are stationed along the eastern and western borders of Ukraine, and are heavily armed and could inflict serious damage on any target. NATO and the European Union (EU) have been bringing up the issue of the Ukrainian conflict in almost every major general meeting and assembly.
Meanwhile, Yonhap reported that Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia has had a meeting with Angela Merkel, the prime minister of Germany over the phone. Putin had emphasized that it was Russia's responsibility to maintain peace in Eastern Europe. Specifically he talked about how the Russia needs to stem the tension with Ukraine, and that humanitarian aid must be provided to revive Ukraine. It is reported that Putin and Merkel will be having a summit meeting to further discuss the issue. The Russian government also added that the talk over the phone was initially started at Merkel's request.
Putin however, had also expressed a great deal of frustration regarding Russia's reputation in the global community. He heavily criticized Europe and the United States and how they have been treating the rest of the world. Specifically, Putin stated how it is as if the victors of the Cold War were manipulating the diplomacies of other nations for their own benefit. The Russian president went as far as to state that whenever a political or economic system that is supposed to maintain a global balance, the U.S. would call it obsolete and claim that it is something that has to go.
As of now, there is a ceasefire between the Ukrainian government and Russia. Russia was known to dispatch its military forces into Ukraine after its initial invasion of the nation the previous year, having its soldiers participate in the war as members of the Ukrainian rebels.
