Russian Innocence

"We have seen a reduction in incidents and of Russian regular troops inside Ukraine. But some Russian special forces remain in Ukraine, plus there remains a substantial Russian military presence on the border."
"So while we welcome all genuine efforts to achieve a peaceful solution, Russia is keeping the option to destabilize Ukraine."
Carmen Romero, NATO spokeswoman

The separatists are trying to wrest the airport from Ukrainian government control despite the ceasefire

The withdrawal of a large number of Russian troops from Ukraine has occurred, but they are massed as a significant force close to the border. A situation where they could swiftly reenter Ukraine, should they once again so wish to do. The cease-fire agreement signed by the government of Ukraine and the separatists a month ago reflected President Putin's plans, not necessarily Ukraine's, for the future.

President Putin provoked the original revolt, was actively engaged in its prolonged violence, and brought it to somewhat of a close.

Although Moscow never acknowledged any of their military personnel on Ukrainian geography, NATO presented ample evidence that Russia had moved artillery units and soldiers across the border, and had fired on Ukrainian troops. A few weeks after the signing of the cease-fire, the majority of Russian troops were withdrawn, even while artillery fire between government and separatist forces, while markedly declining, still erupts.

Lieutenant Colonel Jay Janzen, chief of media operations for the central command of NATO's military forces said it was unclear how many Russian troops stayed behind in Ukraine since the separatists control a number of border crossings where troops move back and forth routinely. "Russian special forces are operating in Ukraine, and they are difficult to detect."

Rebel forces have clashed with Ukrainian troops in recent days at Donetsk airport

There is also the reality that Kyiv and the rebel leaders both drew their forces back from the lines that separates rebel-held and government territory. While this minimized clashes, it also created a de facto surrender by the government in Kyiv of the territory in Donetsk and Luhansk remaining under rebel control, where the government has, in effect, ceded parts of its indivisible geography to the ethnic Russians determined to present as Novorossiya.

It is also interesting to note that Japan has also imposed limited new sanctions against Russia, in concert with the West, continuing to align itself firmly with Japan's Western allies. Five Russian banks have been barred from selling new securities in Japan, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. 

"We consider this unfriendly step as new evidence of the Japanese side's inability to independently build up its foreign policy", stated the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Our position remains unchanged -- unilateral sanctions are illegitimate and never reach their goal."

Japan had already matched its Western allies in earlier sanctions on Russia with the freezing of financial assets by 40 Russian individuals and groups supporting the separatists. Japan has its own contests of long-standing disagreements with Russia over the control of islands between Russia and the Japanese northern island of Hokkaido, each claiming the islands as their own.