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EU hopes for implementation of Putin’s offer to revoke right to use army in Ukraine

Earlier on Tuesday, Putin asked the Federation Council to cancel its resolution authorizing the use of Russia’s armed forces in crisis-gripped Ukraine

BRUSSELS, June 24, 22:30 /ITAR-TASS/. The European Union hopes for prompt implementation of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s request to the upper house of parliament to revoke the right it had given him in March to use Russia’s armed forces in Ukraine, Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for the EU’s Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Putin asked the Federation Council to cancel its resolution authorizing the use of Russia’s armed forces in crisis-gripped Ukraine.

The offer came “in connection with the start of three-party talks on this issue [settlement of the situation in Ukraine’s eastern regions].” It is designed to normalize the situation in Ukraine’s embattled Southeast.

The parliament-given right for Putin to use Russia’s armed forces in Ukraine authorized him to use the army “on the territory of Ukraine until the public and political situation normalizes in the country.”

The authorization to use armed forces in Ukraine if necessary gave Moscow an opportunity to protect, if need arises, Russian speakers in the neighboring country, which was in turmoil after a coup occurred there in February and new people were brought to power amid riots.

The Federation Council is expected to consider Putin’s request at a plenary session on Wednesday.

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