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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 upper house of 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.
Moscow has since annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula. Ukraine said Mr Putin's latest move was a "first practical step" towards settling the crisis in the east.
This was achieved with the help of troops without insignia. Despite initial denials, Mr Putin later admitted that those were Russian armed forces. 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.
However, Moscow denies accusations by Kiev that Russian troops are helping and arm the separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. 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.
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 with the beginning of trilateral talks - also involving Russia and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe - on the conflict in eastern 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.
Pro-Russian separatists on Monday said they would observe a ceasefire until Friday morning, responding to the unilateral truce declared by Ukrainian President Petro 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 Sanford in Moscow says that Mr Putin's request to parliament could be voted in as soon as Wednesday, according to senior Russian officials.The BBC's Daniel Sanford 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.