Putin suggests revoking permission for use of military force in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council, cancelled its permission for a Russian military action in Ukraine, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday, according to RIA Novosti. 

The spokesman said the proposal was aimed at “normalizing and settling the situation in eastern regions of Ukraine and in preparation for the three-party negotiations on this issue.”

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko welcomed the initiative of the Russian leader saying it was a “first practical step” toward reconciliation in eastern Ukraine.

“The Ukrainian president views Vladimir Putin’s address to the Federation Council on cancelling the decision about the use of Russian military forces in Ukraine dated March 1, 2014, as the first practical step that follows the president of Russia’s official support to Ukraine’s peace plan on settling the situation in Donbass,” his office said in a statement.

The Federation Council has already confirmed that it had received Russian President Vladimir Putin’s request and said it would consider it June 25.

“The issue is currently being considered by the chamber’s council, it has been tentatively put on the agenda for tomorrow’s session,” an administrative source in the upper chamber said.