NATO says no signs of Russian troops withdrawal from Ukrainian border despite pledge

NATO has said it has seen no signs of Russia withdrawing its troops from Ukraine's eastern border, despite pledge.

NATO has urged Russia to keep its word this time and withdraw troops along Ukraine's eastern border.

According to CNN, President Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops near the Ukraine border to return to their bases, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

He added that the withdrawal has started and could take some time to finish.

But despite Moscow's assertion, there were no signs of the troops' withdrawal, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said hours later.

Rasmussen reiterated the need for the withdrawal and said he would "be the first" to welcome it.

He said that Ukraine's presidential election were scheduled for Sunday and were crucial, and Russia and Ukrainian separatists should practice restraint to ensure it goes on as planned, the report said.

He urged the armed pro-Russian separatist groups to stop their illegal activities, adding that Russia should stop their support for these armed groups.