Pentagon doubts Russia’s claim of complete withdrawal from Kyiv [Video]

• Russia’s deputy defense minister pledged to reduce military activity in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, during peace negotiations with Ukraine.
• Pentagon cautioned everyone to remain skeptical, however, given that attacks still continue on Kyiv.
• Defense Department spokesman John Kirby added that Russia may just be repositioning its troops to other areas in Ukraine.

Russia reportedly pledged to “drastically reduce” its military activities in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, during its peace talks with Ukraine on Tuesday. However, the U.S. Defense Department cautioned everyone to remain skeptical of Russia’s statements.

Defense Department spokesman John Kirby declared during a press briefing, “Nobody should be fooling ourselves by the Kremlin’s now recent claim that it will suddenly just reduce military attacks near Kyiv, or any reports that it’s going to withdraw all its forces.”

Kirby acknowledged that “a small number of Russian troops” have recently left Kyiv, but the Pentagon believes the movements to be indicative of a “repositioning, not a major withdrawal.”

Kirby added that Russia may just be moving its goalposts, considering that “the courage and the military prowess of Ukraine’s armed forces and its people” proved to be “more than what Russia bargained for in its unprovoked and unjustified invasion.”

He said that the movements could mean “a major offensive against other areas,” such as the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

According to intelligence reports, the Ukrainians have pushed Russian troops farther back from the capital city, forcing them to take a defensive stance instead of continuing to advance on Kyiv.

Kirby declared that Russia has “failed to take Kyiv” and other major population centers, and only succeeded at causing “death and destruction,” particularly to the civilian population.

The war on Ukraine has killed thousands and forced nearly 4 million residents to flee the country since it started over a month ago.

Ukraine and Russia met in Turkey on Tuesday for peace negotiations, which are expected to continue on Wednesday.

Ukraine proposed a state of neutrality, which would mean giving up its application to join the NATO military alliance.

As a show of “mutual trust” and openness to further negotiations, Russia’s deputy defense minister pledged to “fundamentally … cut back military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv.”

However, Kirby advised caution, arguing that Russia’s statements haven’t aligned with their actions since their invasion started.

He explained that Russia described its actions as a peaceful “liberation of the Donbas,” but its troops’ rapid advance on Kyiv was clear proof that its true objective was to capture the capital.

Kirby added that strikes still continue in Kyiv hours after Russia’s pledge to reduce military activity.

Despite this, he said that Russian leaders still have the power to end the war by negotiating “in good faith” with their Ukrainian counterparts.

Kirby said, “The war could end today if Mr. Putin did the right thing and actually did withdraw all his forces from Ukraine.”

Source: Aol.com