Russian troops deal
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MOSCOW (Reuter) - President Boris Yeltsin agreed yesterday to speed Russia's military withdrawal from eastern Germany in return for a promise of extra cash from Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
The visiting German leader said former Soviet troops would return home by 31 August 1994 - four months earlier than planned.
'This is a big success,' he told a joint news conference. 'We took an important step for the future development of German-Russian relations.'
In return, Russia will receive new German aid totalling 550m marks ( pounds 220m) instead of the DM500m originally earmarked, and will be given more time to begin repayments on about DM5bn owed to former East Germany.
Mr Kohl's arrival on Monday evening coincided with a serious political defeat for Mr Yeltsin, who was forced to drop his radical acting Prime Minister, Yegor Gaidar, under pressure from centrists and conservatives at the Congress of People's Deputies.
But yesterday he seemed to have persuaded most of his reformist ministers to stay on under the more conservative leadership of Viktor Chernomyrdin. 'There will be no major (personnel) changes, we are on track and will remain on track,' a German spokesman quoted him as telling Mr Kohl.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments