Putin drops Ukraine military option

June 25, 2014 00:07

Russian President Vladimir Putin took another step toward de-escalating the crisis in Ukraine, signaling he wants to avoid more Western sanctions. But more fighting Tuesday claimed the lives of 10 Ukrainian soldiers despite a cease-fire, highlighting the tenuous nature of progress on the ground.

Mr. Putin asked parliament to rescind his authorization to use military force in Ukraine, telling reporters later in Vienna that he did so because: "We want to create the conditions for this peace process."

The White House welcomed Mr. Putin's move but said it remained concerned about Russian troops and heavy weaponry it said were near the Ukraine-Russia border. Meanwhile, Ukraine's defense ministry said nine soldiers were killed when their helicopter was shot down near the militant stronghold of Slovyansk in eastern Ukraine. One other soldier was killed and seven wounded in earlier clashes Tuesday, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said.

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