BRUSSELS, June 4 - NATO's top military commander accused Russia on Wednesday of destabilizing eastern Ukraine through the use of Russian-backed forces and demanded that it stop interfering, Reuters reported.

While a majority of the troops Russia had close to the Ukrainian border - previously estimated by NATO at 40,000 - had withdrawn or were in the process of withdrawing, some appeared intent on staying, U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, NATO's supreme allied commander Europe, said.