Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his defense minister to pull troops from the border with Ukraine, the Kremlin said ahead of key talks on a fragile truce in the ex-Soviet country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his defense minister to pull troops from the border with Ukraine, the Kremlin said ahead of key talks on a fragile truce in the ex-Soviet country.

"The head of state has tasked the defense minister with beginning to bring troops back to their permanent bases," the Kremlin said late Saturday evening.