RUSSIA has announced that it will “dramatically reduce” its forces near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as its invasion continues to falter.

The announcement was made by Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, and it comes as a new round of peace talks begins.

According to Fomin, Russian forces will be reduced in the Chernihiv region as well.

Moscow had decided to fund “a reduction in military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv in order to increase mutual trust and create conditions for future negotiations,” he said.

The announcement came as the Ukrainian military leadership reported that Russian troops were beginning to withdraw from Kyiv and Chernihiv.

However, the re-capture of the Ukrainian town of Irpin near Kyiv shows that Russian forces are on the defensive.

Despite this, some in Ukraine’s leadership were sceptical of Russia’s announcement.

“These statements are absolute lies intended to buy time for Russia to strengthen its positions,” government adviser Anton Gerashchenko tweeted.

When Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, he expected a quick victory, but his forces have encountered stiff resistance in the war.

The death toll in Russia has risen to 15,000, with several generals and other top commanders among those killed.

Ukraine said recently that its troops had pushed Russian forces back from Irpin, near Kyiv.

The Ukrainians were able to retake towns and defensive positions up to 21 miles east of Kiev.

Despite the victories, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that hard fighting would continue.

“We still have to fight and endure,” Zelenskyy said.

“This is a ruthless war against our country, our people, and our children.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier opened peace talks in Istanbul, acknowledging both sides’ “legitimate concerns” but urging them to “put an end to this tragedy.”

Roman Abramovich, the Russian oligarch and Chelsea owner who has been sanctioned by the West, was also present.

He was photographed for the first time since reports surfaced that he had been poisoned during previous talks.

On the first day of the war, Russian helicopters swooped down on Kyiv in an attempt to destabilise the government and replace President Volodymyr Zelensky with a puppet.

However, the Ukrainians repelled the assault and inflicted devastating losses on a Russian armoured column en route to Kyiv near the town of Bucha.

Fighting is also raging in Kherson, where Ukrainian forces are attempting to retake the city, which was the first major city to fall into Russian hands.