NATO sees significant pullback of Russian troops from Ukraine

A Ukrainian armoured vehicle passes a checkpoint near the eastern Ukrainian town of Debaltseve, September 23, 2014. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO has observed a significant withdrawal of Russian forces from inside Ukraine, but many Russian troops remain stationed nearby, an alliance military spokesman said on Wednesday.

"There has been a significant pullback of Russian conventional forces from inside Ukraine, but many thousands are still deployed in the vicinity of the border," Lieutenant-Colonel Jay Janzen said in an e-mailed response to a request from Reuters for comment.