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Russia's Vladimir Putin 'to respect' Ukraine vote Russia's Vladimir Putin 'to respect' Ukraine vote
(35 minutes later)
Russia's President Putin has said he will respect the outcome of Ukraine's presidential election on Sunday. Russia's President Vladimir Putin has said he will respect the outcome of Ukraine's presidential election.
Speaking at an economic conference in St Petersburg on Friday, Vladimir Putin also said he believed Ukraine had descended into "full-scale civil war". Speaking in St Petersburg, he said Russia was prepared to work with whoever was elected Ukraine's president in Sunday's vote.
Meanwhile, pro-Russia separatists have clashed with self-defence fighters in the eastern city of Donetsk. It is the first time Mr Putin has explicitly indicated that he will accept Ukraine's election result.
Violence in the east, particularly Donetsk and Luhansk, has seriously disrupted preparations for the polls.Violence in the east, particularly Donetsk and Luhansk, has seriously disrupted preparations for the polls.
Separatist insurgents in the two regions declared independence after disputed referendums earlier this month and have pledged to derail Sunday's vote. Separatist insurgents in the two regions declared independence after disputed referendums earlier this month and have pledged to derail the presidential poll.
After the votes on 11 May, Moscow said it respected the results and called for peaceful "practical implementation" of the "will of the people", even though Mr Putin had urged a delay to the referendums days before.After the votes on 11 May, Moscow said it respected the results and called for peaceful "practical implementation" of the "will of the people", even though Mr Putin had urged a delay to the referendums days before.
Further clashes 'Civil war'
The presidential elections were called after the last elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, was deposed in February amid mass protests against his pro-Russian policies.The presidential elections were called after the last elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, was deposed in February amid mass protests against his pro-Russian policies.
"We understand that the people of Ukraine want their country to emerge from this crisis. We will treat their choice with respect," President Putin said in St Petersburg. "We understand that the people of Ukraine want their country to emerge from this crisis. We will treat their choice with respect," President Putin told an economic forum in St Petersburg.
"It would have been better to hold a referendum and adopt a new constitution. Under the current constitution (Viktor) Yanukovych is still in power," he added."It would have been better to hold a referendum and adopt a new constitution. Under the current constitution (Viktor) Yanukovych is still in power," he added.
Until now he has left open the possibility that Russia might question the election result on Sunday, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall.
But now he has left little doubt that he has decided to accept the outcome, even if somewhat reluctantly, she adds.
Mr Putin also voiced concern that Ukraine would join Nato and said that he hoped the leadership in Kiev would end military action in eastern Ukraine.Mr Putin also voiced concern that Ukraine would join Nato and said that he hoped the leadership in Kiev would end military action in eastern Ukraine.
He also denied that Moscow was behind the violence in eastern Ukraine, involving pro-Russia separatists. He said he believed Ukraine had descended into "full-scale civil war" but denied that Moscow was behind acts involving pro-Russia separatists.
Further clashes were reported on Friday between pro-Russia separatists and self-defence fighters near the village of Karlivka in the Donetsk region. His comments follow some of eastern Ukraine's deadliest violence, with at least 14 government soldiers killed in clashes with pro-Russia separatists in the Volnovakha area on Thursday.
Semen Semenchenko, commander of the Donbass region battalion - a volunteer force attached to the army, said several soldiers were wounded after they were ambushed by attackers using automatic weapons, snipers and grenade launchers. Further clashes were reported on Friday between pro-Russia separatists and self-defence fighters near the village of Karlivka in the Donetsk region, with reports of at least two people killed.
The number of casualties remains unclear, however, an AFP photographer reported seeing at least five bodies near the village of Karlivka.
The latest fighting comes a day after the Ukrainian military suffered its heaviest losses since the crisis began, with at least 14 soldiers killed in the Volnovakha area of eastern Ukraine.