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Russian President Putin 'scraps Ukraine military move' | Russian President Putin 'scraps Ukraine military move' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Russia's president has asked parliament to revoke the right of military intervention in Ukraine, where rebels have been fighting government troops. | Russia's president has asked parliament to revoke the right of military intervention in Ukraine, where rebels have been fighting government troops. |
Vladimir Putin's move was aimed at "normalising the situation" in the conflict-torn eastern regions of Ukraine, his press-secretary said. | Vladimir Putin's move was aimed at "normalising the situation" in the conflict-torn eastern regions of Ukraine, his press-secretary said. |
The parliament authorised Mr Putin to use force in Ukraine on 1 March. | The parliament authorised Mr Putin to use force in Ukraine on 1 March. |
Ukraine said Mr Putin's latest move was a "first practical step" towards settling the crisis in the east. | Ukraine said Mr Putin's latest move was a "first practical step" towards settling the crisis in the east. |
In a statement, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stressed that this came after Mr Putin had officially supported Kiev's peace plan, which involved a ceasefire. | In a statement, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stressed that this came after Mr Putin had officially supported Kiev's peace plan, which involved a ceasefire. |
Since March, Moscow has annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula. | Since March, Moscow has annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula. |
This was achieved with the help of troops without insignia. Despite initial denials, Mr Putin later admitted that they were Russian armed forces. | This was achieved with the help of troops without insignia. Despite initial denials, Mr Putin later admitted that they were Russian armed forces. |
However, Moscow denies accusations by Kiev that Russian troops are helping and arming the separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | However, Moscow denies accusations by Kiev that Russian troops are helping and arming the separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
'Choreographed plan' | 'Choreographed plan' |
On Tuesday, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Putin had sent a letter to the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, asking to revoke the right of military intervention in Ukraine. | On Tuesday, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Putin had sent a letter to the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, asking to revoke the right of military intervention in Ukraine. |
Mr Peskov said the move was linked to Monday's launch of talks between Kiev and separatist leaders in the east. Representatives from Russia and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe also took part in the meeting. | Mr Peskov said the move was linked to Monday's launch of talks between Kiev and separatist leaders in the east. Representatives from Russia and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe also took part in the meeting. |
The separatists said afterwards that they would observe a ceasefire until Friday morning, responding to the unilateral truce declared by President Poroshenko. | The separatists said afterwards that they would observe a ceasefire until Friday morning, responding to the unilateral truce declared by President Poroshenko. |
The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Moscow says that Mr Putin's request to parliament could be voted in as soon as Wednesday, according to senior Russian officials. | |
This could be a very important choreographed plan to achieve peace in eastern Ukraine, our correspondent says. | This could be a very important choreographed plan to achieve peace in eastern Ukraine, our correspondent says. |
It looks as if everybody is stepping back from the brink of an abyss or at least trying to, he adds. | It looks as if everybody is stepping back from the brink of an abyss or at least trying to, he adds. |
Hundreds of people have been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine. | Hundreds of people have been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine. |