Obama administration skeptical about Vladimir Putin 's order . CNN says withdrawal would be `` third step to de-escalating the situation '' Luhansk has said troops were conducting a routine exercise that has ended . `` Withdrawal of Russian troops will be the first step to de-escalating the situation . '' The presence of 40,000 Ukrainian troops on the border has spurred fears of an invasion .
Obama administration skeptical about Vladimir Putin 's order . CNN says withdrawal would be `` third step to de-escalating the situation '' Luhansk has said troops were conducting a routine exercise that has ended . The presence of 40,000 Ukrainian troops on the border has spurred fears of an invasion .