Russia orders end to huge military drills near Ukraine

Military tank units of the Russian Black Sea fleet hold drills in Crimea.

The Russian defence ministry released dramatic footage of the land and sea manoeuvres

Russia's defence minister on Friday ordered an end to military drills near Ukraine involving tens of thousands of troops and dozens of warships that had exacerbated tensions with the West.

The West has repeatedly called on Putin to pull back troops, and on Thursday the United States said it would wait for Moscow to follow up on its announcement of an end to the military drills near Ukraine.