Russia will recognise outcome of Ukraine poll,

Russia will recognise outcome of Ukraine poll, says Vladimir Putin

Putin says Russia will 'respect the choice of Ukrainian people', but separatist authorities vow to disrupt weekend's presidential election 

Shaun Walker in Donetsk

Vladimir Putin has given the strongest indication yet that Russia is defusing its policy towards Ukraine, saying that Moscow will "respect the choice of the Ukrainian people" and work with the country's government after a new president is elected on Sunday.

Previously, the Kremlin had not made it clear whether it would recognise the vote amid the continuing violence in the east of the country, where pro-Moscow separatists have declared two independent statelets after questionable referendums held earlier this month.

The separatist authorities have said they will do everything possible to disrupt the elections, stating they do not plan to hold "the presidential elections of a neighbouring state" on their territory, and there has been a campaign of terror and intimidation against polling stations and election officials.

Putin blamed the west for provoking the Ukraine crisis and said the country was now experiencing "full-blown civil war". However, he suggested on Friday that the Kremlin would recognise the vote. Since former president Viktor Yanukovych fled Ukraine in February, Moscow has referred to the interim government as a "junta" with no legitimacy. Russia has annexed the Crimea peninsula, and Kiev has accused it of stirring up an armed revolt in the east of the country as well.

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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/23/russia-ukraine-vote-vladimir-putin-president