US and the UK dispute rumours of a Russian pullback; Estonia warns of a ‘limited’ military strike

            Despite Russia’s assertions that it has withdrawn soldiers from the Ukrainian border, the US stated on Wednesday that it does not believe the Kremlin, adding that Moscow may have expanded its presence by 7,000 troops.

“So yesterday, the Russian government announced it was evacuating soldiers from the Ukrainian border… But we now know that was untrue”, a senior Biden administration official was cited as saying by Reuters.

Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, has made similar assertions. Johnson told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday that there is “now little sign of Russia disengaging” from boundaries bordering Ukraine.

“The leaders reaffirmed nation’s responsibilities to uphold their duties under the United Nations Charter and to protect UN member’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, Johnson’s office stated, according to AFP.

Russia has announced the withdrawal of its forces in the previous two days, emphasising that it does not desire a conflict. Russia, on the other hand, insists on assurances that Ukraine will not be admitted to the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Russia will undertake a “limited” military strike on Ukraine?

Despite this promise, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service has warned that Russia may undertake a “limited” military strike on Ukraine. According to Estonian authorities, the invasion would entail missile bombardment and the takeover of “important terrain” in Ukraine.