Zelensky: Ukraine will not be deceived after Russia withdraws from areas near Kyiv

Ukraine and its Western allies on Wednesday described the Russian military withdrawal from areas near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as a ploy to re-equip Russian forces after they suffered heavy losses even as they bombed other cities and proceeded with the destruction of besieged Mariupol.

Nearly five weeks into the war, Russia said it would scale back operations near Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv to "increase mutual trust" for peace talks, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made clear in an overnight speech that he did not take what Moscow was saying on the surface, and it would not be fooled. Ukraine after Russia withdrew from areas near Kyiv.

"The Ukrainians are not naive," Zelensky said. "The Ukrainians have already learned during the 34 days of the invasion and during the past eight years of the war in Donbas that the only thing they can trust is a tangible result."

Ukraine's presidential adviser, Oleksiy Aristovich, said Moscow was moving some troops from northern Ukraine to the east, where it is trying to encircle the main Ukrainian force there.

He explained that some Russians will remain near Kyiv to restrict the movements of Ukrainian forces.

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