US defense officials say Russia has pulled most of its forces away from the Ukraine border.

They said about seven battalions remain, amounting to a couple of thousand troops. US officials had estimated as many as 40,000 Russian forces had been aligned along the border with Ukraine that has been wracked with violence between government security forces and rebels.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel isn't providing any details to reporters traveling with him overseas, but he calls the withdrawal promising.

He says there still are thousands of Russian troops along the border who have not moved yet.

The defense officials spoke only on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the precise numbers.