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Ukraine clashes ahead of polls

May 23, 2014

There have been more reported clashes in eastern Ukraine between government troops and pro-Russian separatists. Moscow is to withdraw its forces from the border and expressed hopes that ties with the US could be mended.

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Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Journalists with the AP news agency in the east of Ukraine saw three dead from Friday's fighting, a day after insurgents killed 16 Ukrainian soldiers at a checkpoint.

Ukraine's defense ministry said up to 500 insurgents had attacked government troops in one clash in eastern Ukraine that left 20 insurgents dead. The ministry said in a statement Friday the clash took place Thursday as a convoy of Ukrainian troops was attacked outside the eastern village of Rubizhne. The ministry said one soldier was killed early Friday in a separate clash near the same area.

One separatist leader said 16 more people died in fighting Friday - 10 soldiers, four separatists and two civilians - but there was no immediate way to verify his statement.

Fighting also continued around the city of Slovyansk, where Ukrainian government forces retaliated against separatist fire, damaging several houses. There was no word on casualties.

Russia proposals

Russia announced it would pull back all forces deployed to regions near its border with Ukraine "within a few days", deputy defence minister Anatoly Antonov said on Friday. The defense ministry later issued a statement saying troops and equipment would be fully moved out of the border area in the course of a few days. It would take about 20 days to return the forces to their permanent bases.

President Vladimir Putin promised Friday that Russia would recognize the outcome of Sunday's presidential election in Ukraine, but he also voiced hope that Ukraine's new leader would halt the military operation against separatists in the east.

Putin also said he hoped ties with the United States and the European Union could be mended: "common sense will push our partners in the United States and Europe toward continuing cooperation with Russia."

Alexei Makarkin, deputy head of the Moscow-based Center for Political Technologies think-tank, said Putin's comments reflected a desire to avoid another round of Western sanctions.

The Russian president suggested that by pressing the EU to impose stronger sanctions against Russia, the US was trying to weaken a competitor. "Maybe the Americans, who are quite shrewd, want to win a competitive edge over Europe by insisting on introducing sanctions against Russia?" he commented while speaking at an investment forum in St. Petersburg.

Separatists in eastern Ukraine have declared a boycott of the presidential vote.

jm/hc (AP, Reuters, AFP)