Stoltenberg stated that NATO Defence Ministers would meet to address the most serious security crisis NATO has faced in Europe for decades. He continued as there are signs from Moscow that diplomacy should continue, which gives grounds for cautious optimism. “But so far, we have not seen any sign of de-escalation on the ground, not any signs of reduced Russian military presence on the borders of Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said, answering a question he added, “we will monitor what’s happening on the ground and whether this is affected in some real de-escalation of the Russian military build-up in around Ukraine.”

Moscow signalled Monday that some military exercises were coming to an end. The Ministry said, on Tuesday, some units had “already begun loading onto rail and road transport and will begin moving to their military garrisons.”

But Stoltenberg cautioned that even if Russia withdrew troops, it would also have to pull back heavy equipment to a real de-escalation, indicating that such movements should accompany the equipment withdrawal.

“The movement of forces does not represent real de-escalation,” Stoltenberg said.