Russia’s defense minister said on April 27 that the troop pullback from the Ukraine border had nothing to do with Western pressure and that Moscow will do whatever is necessary to protect itself.
Newsweek: Russia will do what is ‘necessary’ to secure borders
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) watches the joint drills by the Northern and Black Sea Fleets from onboard the cruiser Marshal Ustinov in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea on Jan. 9, 2020.