MOSCOW. Feb 17 (Interfax) - Russia does not and will not accept claims related to the movement of Russian troops on its territory, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"We are not ready and will not accept claims about our movement of the Armed Forces on our territory. This is our sovereign right, and we are not going to discuss it with anyone," Peskov told journalists on Thursday, when asked to comment on statements by U.S. Department of State officials that Russia allegedly sending additional forces the border with Ukraine.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has recently reported to the Russian president that certain stages of the exercises in Crimean districts adjacent to Ukraine were coming to an end, and as the exercises conclude, troops are returning to their permanent bases, he said.
"This process has already begun. We saw footage and reports provided by the Defense Ministry that troops are returning [to their bases]," Peskov said.
This is a lengthy process since it took several weeks to form the group of troops for the exercises, and it is impossible to withdraw them to permanent bases within one day, he said.