Putin to house: Nix Ukraine force resolution
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RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin asked parliament yesterday to cancel a resolution sanctioning the use of military force in Ukraine, a move his Ukrainian counterpart heralded as a “practical step” toward bringing peace to a region roiled by a separatist insurgency.
Putin’s announcement comes after pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine said they would respect a cease-fire declared by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, raising hopes for an end to months of fighting that has killed hundreds and driven thousands from their homes.
A statement on the Kremlin website announced that Putin had asked the head of Russia’s upper house of parliament to cancel his March 1 request authorizing the use of force on Ukrainian territory.
Russian parliament member Valery Shnyakin said the house would vote today on the issue, according to RIA Novosti.
The Russian leader had made the request after Ukraine’s pro-Russian president was ousted in February following months of street protests. In March, Ukraine’s Black Sea region of Crimea was annexed by Russia.
Putin’s latest move reflects an effort to de-escalate the crisis ahead of a visit to Vienna, where he is meeting with officials from the Organization for Security and Cooperation who have helped broker peace talks between Kiev and Moscow.
Kiev and Western governments have frequently accused Russia of supporting the rebels in the east and of amassing troops on the border for a possible invasion of Ukraine. But Poroshenko, Ukraine’s new president, lauded Putin’s announcement yesterday.
The cease-fire in east Ukraine appeared to be largely holding, as soldiers at a checkpoint in Dovhenke, 50 kilometers north of the rebel stronghold of Slovyansk, were seen relaxing near the barricades or engaging in shooting drills yesterday.
Vladislav Seleznev, the spokesman for Ukraine’s operation in the east, said rebel forces attacked a Ukrainian base north of Slovyansk late on Monday but there had been no fighting overnight. But he said that a military helicopter was shot down in Slovyansk yesterday. Nine people were killed as the Mi-8 helicopter was shot down over a rebel-controlled area.
Also, troops at another government-controlled checkpoint just outside of Slovyansk said they had come under sniper attack yesterday morning.
The OSCE chairman, Swiss President Didier Burkhalter, said in Vienna that “we need a cease-fire which lasts longer than five days to be able to start real dialogue”. The current cease-fire is due to expire on Friday evening.
Burkhalter said the OSCE was open to the idea of observing the cease-fire in eastern Ukraine along with Russian representatives but did not clarify exactly who would partake in any observation missions.
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