MOSCOW. Feb 15 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, when asked whether Russia will continue withdrawing troops from the Ukrainian border, has said that the country will act according to a plan that depends on the real situation.
"How will Russia continue to act? By the plan. And what will it consist of? The real situation on the ground," Putin said at a press conference following talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
"Who can answer how the situation will unfold? No one can yet. It doesn't depend on us alone," Putin said.
At the same time, the Russian president noted that Russia "will strive to reach agreements with our partners on the issues that we have raised in order to resolve them diplomatically."
"What are these issues? This is well known in relation to ensuring Russia's security. These are NATO non-enlargement, the transfer of the bloc's military infrastructure to [the positions of] 1997 and the non-deployment of offensive arms near our borders," Putin said.
"Everything, in my opinion, is understandable and clear. We are willing to talk about other issues that are contained in the reply we received [from the United States and NATO], but in combination with what is of paramount value and paramount importance for us," the Russian president said.