Pulling over 10,000 Russian troops from the Ukrainian border

Interfax said the exercises were held in several regions near Ukraine, including in Crime, which Russia annexed in 2014, as well as in southern Russian regions of Rostowi and Cuban, Reuters reports.

The deployment of tens of thousands of Russian troops to the north, east and south of Ukraine had sparked fears in Kiev and Western capitals that Moscow was planning an attack.

Russia denies any such plan, saying it needs promises from the West, including a NATO promise not to extend the alliance towards Russian borders because its security is threatened by Ukraine's growing ties with the Western alliance.