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The Prime Minister will gather with senior staff to be given an update on the latest situation.<\/p>\n
For weeks Western leaders have been bracing for the outbreak of war in Eastern Europe, with President Vladimir Putin surrounding 130,000 troops around Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Intelligence sources indicated Moscow was preparing to pounce as soon as tomorrow, launching a full-scale assault on its neighbour and taking control of the former soviet territory.<\/p>\n
However, this morning Russia unexpectedly moved some troops away from the border and back to their military bases.<\/p>\n
The retreat by President Putin has raised hopes the break out of conflict could yet be avoided.<\/p>\n
Video footage from Russia’s defence ministry showed some tanks and other armoured vehicles being loaded onto railway flatcars, while troops marched back to barracks.<\/p>\n
Despite the start of an apparent pullback, thousands of troops still remain stationed at the border.<\/p>\n