The rouble gained 0.4% to 74.98 to the dollar as of 0720 GMT RUBUTSTN=MCX, returning to levels seen before its sharpest single-session drop in nearly two years on Friday when Western nations urged their citizens to leave Ukraine.

Russia denies it has any plans to invade.

"We expect the dollar-rouble pair to enter the 73-75 range today," Promsvyazbank analysts said in a note.

Versus the euro, the rouble firmed 0.4% to 85.19 EURRUBTN=MCX.

The rouble is regaining ground after the Russian defence ministry published footage that it said showed it was returning some troops to base after exercises.

But US President Joe Biden warned that more than 150,000 Russian troops were still amassed near Ukraine's borders after Moscow's announcement of a partial pullback was met with scepticism. Read full story

UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace also said he did not see any evidence of a Russian troop withdrawal.

Brent crude oil LCOc1, a global benchmark for Russia's main export, was up 0.7% at $93.90 a barrel, trading near its highest since September 2014 and supporting Russian stock indexes. O/R

The dollar-denominated RTS index .IRTS rose 2.3% to 1,532.4 points. The rouble-based MOEX Russian index .IMOEX was 1.3% higher at 3,646.9 points.

"Russian stocks poised to extend gains as diplomacy eases geopolitical tensions," Alfa Bank said in a note.