'Please stop me': Putin asks Federation Council to cancel resolution on use of Russian forces in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the Federation Council (upper house of parliament) to cancel its resolution that allows to use Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told ITAR-TASS on Tuesday.
‘Over the start of three-party talks on this issue (settlement of the situation in east Ukraine), the president asked the Federation Council to cancel its resolution of March 1, 2014 on use of Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine,’ Peskov said.
On Monday U.S. President Barack Obama called on Mr Putin in a phone conversation to take concrete action to support peace in Ukraine. Otherwise, the U.S. leader said, Russia will face new sanctions.
‘The president spoke to President Putin and once again urged him to support peace instead of allowing the provision of arms and materiel across the border and continuing support for militants and separatists who are further destabilizing the situation in Ukraine,’ White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. ‘Russia will face additional costs if we do not see concrete actions to de-escalate the situation.’
On March 1, Vladimir Putin sent to the Federation Council a letter on the use of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine, and the Council supported his appeal.
(UPD) Russian shares leapt to a five-month high on Tuesday after President Vladimir Putin asked the upper house of parliament to revoke Russia’s right to send troops to Ukraine, reuters.com reports.
The dollar-denominated RTS index rose more than 1 percent immediately after Russian news agencies reported Putin’s move, citing his official spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The index was up more than 2.5 percent on Monday’s close by 1014 GMT, surpassing 1,400 points for the first time since mid-January. The rouble was up 0.7 percent against the dollar from the previous close.
