Russian Defense Ministry decides to drastically decrease military activity in areas of Kyiv, Chernihiv - Defense Ministry

MOSCOW. March 29 (Interfax) - Military activity in the areas of Kyiv and Chernihiv will be curtailed in order to increase mutual trust and provide the conditions required for further talks, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Col. Gen. Alexander Fomin told reporters following Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul.

"Due to the fact that the negotiations on elaborating a treaty on Ukraine's neutrality and nuclear-free status, as well as on providing Ukraine with security guarantees are shifting to the practical field, and taking into account the principles discussed during today's meeting, the Russian Defense Ministry has decided to decrease its military activity in the areas of Kyiv and Chernihiv drastically in order to increase mutual trust and create conditions required for further negotiations and for achieving the ultimate goal of reaching an agreement on and signing of the aforementioned treaty," he said.

"We assume that the relevant main decisions will be taken in Kyiv and conditions for further normal work should be created," Fomin added.

He noted that the Russian Armed Forces General Staff will report in more detail on the decisions taken upon the delegation's return to Moscow.