MOSCOW, Rajab 24, 1435, May 23, 2014, SPA -- Russia will pull back all forces deployed to regions near its border with Ukraine "within a few days", a deputy defence minister said on Friday, a move that if carried out could ease tensions around Ukraine's presidential election on Sunday, Reuters reported. Moscow has concentrated tens of thousands of troops across the border from eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists have declared two independent states. The United States said a "very large and very capable" Russian force remained on Friday. Kiev and its Western allies see the Russian troops as a potential invasion force should Moscow choose to back the rebels openly, fuelling pre-election tensions. The United States and EU hope the vote will strengthen the embattled central government. Asked whether Russia would comply with Western calls for a withdrawal of its troops near the Ukraine frontier, Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov told Reuters: "They will see it - 100 percent ... We will leave less than nothing behind." The United States said it was not yet convinced. "We have seen some movement, but it is too early to know where or how many of these forces are actually moving out for good," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said. -- SPA 22:46 LOCAL TIME 19:46 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w