NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday welcomed a pullback by troops in eastern Ukraine, but reiterated calls for Russia to "withdraw all their troops".

"We welcome all efforts to reduce tensions, to withdraw forces and to make sure that we have a peaceful solution to the conflict. But we know there is a long way to go because there are still ceasefire violations," Stoltenberg said.

On October 1, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that he would withdraw troops from the Donbass villages, Petrivsky and Zolote. Part of the population in Ukrain protest the move, saying it means capitulation.