Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a 'partial withdrawal' of troops from the border with Ukraine.
Putin informed German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the move in a telephonic conversation.
Merkel's office said in a statement that the two leaders discussed further possible steps to stabilise the situation in Ukraine and Trans-Dniester the BBC reports.
Earlier, Ukraine condemned Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and a delegation of government ministers' visit to Crimea.
According to the report, a foreign ministry spokesman in Kiev said the highest-level trip to the Black Sea peninsula by officials from Moscow since its annexation by Russia was a 'crude violation' of international rules.
Medvedev announced that he would make Crimea a special economic zone, with tax breaks and reduced bureaucracy to attract investors.
