Kremlin: Putin orders end of military drills near Ukraine border

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an end to military exercises in regions bordering Ukraine, the Kremlin said, while also calling on Kiev to immediately withdraw troops from east Ukraine. "Due to the end of the planned spring training of troops that included their movement to Rostov, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions, the Russian president ordered... troops participating in the drills to return to their permanent bases," a statement sent to Russian news agencies said. Russia also called for an "immediate end" to the military operation by Ukrainian troops in the east of the country and their withdrawal, the statement said.