Ukraine war: Russia to 'fundamentally cut back' military activity near Kyiv and Chernihiv - but West says they're just playing for time

Russia has said it will drastically cut military activity near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and around Chernihiv - a pledge dismissed by Western officials as likely an attempt to "play for time".

Alexander Fomin, the Kremlin's deputy defence minister, said Moscow has decided to "fundamentally cut back" operations to "increase mutual trust" at talks aimed at ending the fighting.

But speaking to Reuters news agency, a Western official said the announcement "seems to be more of a tactical exercise" to buy time for troops to regroup - a sentiment backed by the Pentagon.

It confirmed "some movement of small numbers" of Russian forces away from Kyiv but described it as more of a "repositioning - not a withdrawal".

And, at a news conference at the White House, US President Joe Biden said simply: "We'll see if they follow through."

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It came as Ukrainian and Russian delegations met in Istanbul in Turkey for fresh peace discussions.

Sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich appeared at the peace negotiations on Tuesday morning, following allegations he was poisoned at earlier talks - a claim the Kremlin rejected as part of an "information war".

Read more: Just how involved is Roman Abramovich in peace talks?

Key points from the talks Alistair Bunkall Middle East correspondent @AliBunkallSKY The Ukrainian and Russian delegations arrived in Istanbul late on Monday evening with low expectations. By the time they left, mid-Tuesday afternoon, talk of a breakthrough was echoing around the world. The talks lasted only a matter of hours, but both sides seemed to make compromises that might pave the way forward to something greater. Ukraine is reportedly ready to surrender its ambitions to join NATO. In return for sworn neutrality, they will demand security guarantees from as yet undetermined states. The US and UK had been mooted, but given their prominence in NATO, they might prove unacceptable for Moscow - Poland, Italy, and Canada have been added to the list of possible others. Ukraine is standing firm on its refusal to give up Crimea and Donbas. Russia is equally steadfast on that matter. Those territorial negotiations could be split off for a later date, dependent on the outcome of more immediate peace talks. But the most unexpected announcement of the day came from the Russian delegation - the proposal to withdraw forces from around Kyiv and Chernihiv. In reality, Russian forces had become bogged down and have made little progress for weeks; it was rumoured many of them would pull eastwards anyway, to reinforce the push there. The prospect of Russian troops capturing Kyiv has become increasingly unrealistic, so this is more of a face-saving move if anything. Putin will spin it as a trust-building gesture, but it actually represents a total failure to achieve what he mistakenly thought he would do in a matter of days. The Turkish hosts, keen to be peacemakers, have suggested the next step is for Putin and Zelenskyy to meet in person. Tonight that certainly feels more likely, but after weeks of broken Russian promises, I can't help but retain some scepticism.

Russia outlines two steps to de-escalate war

Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian negotiating team, maintained that cutting back troops from major cities was one of two steps Moscow was taking to de-escalate the 34-day-old conflict.

He said Russia would also agree to a meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, if and when a peace treaty was forthcoming from each country's foreign ministers.

However, he stressed the scale-back did not represent a ceasefire, and he said talks on a formal agreement with Kyiv have a long way to go.

But the withdrawals around Kyiv and Chernihiv have been noted by the Ukrainians, said the general staff of the country's military.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:55 Rocket strikes in Mykolaiv

Earlier talks, held in Belarus or by video, failed to make progress on ending the conflict that has killed thousands and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes - including almost four million forced abroad.

The Ukrainian president indicated previously his country is prepared to declare neutrality, as Moscow has demanded, and that compromise may be possible over "the complex issue of Donbas" in the country's east, where separatists backed by Russia have controlled since 2014.

But it is unclear how that might be reconciled with his stance that "Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity are beyond doubt".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared to dismiss the idea of Russia being able to "subjugate" parts of Ukraine, saying: "We've seen the will and the determination of the Ukrainian people to determine their own future, not to have Russia or anyone else determine it for them."

Russia has long demanded Ukraine drop any hope of joining NATO, which Moscow sees as a threat.

Mr Zelenskyy, for his part, has stressed Ukraine needs security guarantees of its own as part of any deal.

Read more: Zelenskyy offers Putin a way out of war - but will Russia's leader budge?

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:28 'We are regaining control'

Ukraine warned 'significant threat' remains to Kyiv

Meanwhile, as Ukrainian forces entered their 34th day of war, the UK's ministry of defence said the Kremlin forces still pose a "significant threat" to the capital, through their strike capability.

And later, Downing Street stressed the need for the West not to let off in its response to the crisis.

During a call with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and the US, Boris Johnson "underscored that we must judge Putin's regime by their actions not their words".

A US official also warned of "continued major offensives" on other areas of Ukraine.

In his latest address to the nation, Ukraine's president said troops were regaining territory around the capital, and he heralded the "liberation" of Irpin, a key town on the northwest fringe of Kyiv.