Russian resolution on Ukraine force axed

The upper house of the Russian parliament has cancelled a resolution allowing the use of military force in Ukraine, a move intended to show Moscow’s eagerness to de-escalate tensions and avoid a new round of Western sanctions.

President Vladimir Putin had requested the move, and said it was intended to help support the peace process in Ukraine, which began on Friday with a week-long ceasefire. Putin needs to show his support for Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko’s peace plan ahead of this week’s European Union summit, to avoid further Western sanctions. The EU has warned it could introduce new sanctions that would target entire sectors of the Russian economy if Moscow fails to help de-escalate the crisis.

The vote came as Nato foreign ministers gathered in Brussels, warning that more sanctions are possible and considering ways to bolster Ukraine’s military.

German chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday that Mr Putin’s move to rescind permission for using military force in Ukraine was an “important psychological point”, but progress towards a solution remains slow and the EU is still prepared to increase sanctions.

Two previous rounds of US and EU sanctions imposed asset freezes and travel bans on members of Mr Putin’s inner circle.