Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered thousands of troops to withdraw from the border with Ukraine ahead of diplomatic talks on bringing peace to the Western-backed, former Soviet republic. The announcement by the Kremlin late Saturday appeared to be a positive signal prior to Putin's meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and European leaders in Milan on Friday (Oct 17). Accused by Ukraine and the West of stoking a bloody insurgency in eastern Ukraine, Russia is facing its most serious international isolation since the end of the Cold War. Several rounds of Western sanctions have shaken the economy, intensified capital flight and weakened the ruble. Read more http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/putin-orders-troop/1411044.html
