FirstFT: Russia says it will scale back Kyiv military activity

Russia has decided to “dramatically” scale back its military activities in the Kyiv area, a top Moscow defence ministry official said, following a fresh round of peace talks with Ukrainian counterparts in Istanbul.

Alexander Fomin, Russia’s deputy defence minister, said the move was intended to “increase mutual trust” as he announced it in Turkey after face-to-face talks concluded. Equities rallied and oil prices fell on the news.

But western officials cautioned against taking Moscow’s pledge at face value. “Nothing we have seen so far suggests that Putin and his colleagues are particularly serious about the talks. They are likely just playing for time,” said one. US President Joe Biden said he wouldn’t “read anything into” Russia’s decision.

Both Moscow and Kyiv indicated that they had made progress at the Istanbul talks, but negotiators said the path to any lasting deal was likely to be long and fraught.

More from the war in Ukraine:

“I am slowly and painfully coming to the view that Nato must be prepared to fight,” Martin Wolf wrote in an exchange of views with Gideon Rachman last week. Gideon disagreed, arguing direct Nato intervention would be a tragedy for Ukraine and the world. What do you think? Have your say in our latest poll.

Thanks for reading FirstFT Asia. Here’s the rest of today’s news — Emily.

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