NATO foreign ministers are suspending most civilian and military co-operation with Russia, because of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and for massing thousands of its troops just over Ukraine’s eastern border. 

Foreign ministers from the 28-member security bloc issued a strongly worded statement condemning Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula. 

Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also disputed earlier reports that Russia was pulling its forces back from its border with Ukraine.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had phoned German Chancellor Angela Merkel with the news that some Russian troops had withdrawn from the border with Ukraine.  But Rasmussen told reporters, “Unfortunately, I cannot confirm that Russia is withdrawing its troops.  This is not what we are seeing.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry said the Russian announcement was welcome, “but small compared to numbers that are deployed. 

“The question now is, is there a way to build on that,” Kerry added.