Russia’s military said Tuesday it would cut back operations near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and another northern city in a move meant “to increase trust” as delegations from both countries met in Istanbul for their first face-to-face talks in two weeks.

Gen. Tod Wolters, the commander for U.S. European Command, said the reports that Russians were pulling away from Kyiv is “exactly what we see” during a Tuesday hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee.