 "Will respect result of Ukraine's presidential elections: Putin")
Russian president Vladimir Putin has reportedly said that he will respect the result of Ukraine's presidential elections.
Putin's remark is an indication of his acceptance of Ukraine's fate, which will be decided after the vote.
Meanwhile, increased violence in the east has reportedly hampered preparations for the polls.
According to FOX News, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported that fighting between pro-Russia separatists and government forces appeared to be escalating, leaving 20 more rebels and one soldier dead.
The ministry said that 20 were killed after nearly 500 insurgents attacked a convoy of government troops outside the eastern village of Rubizhne, while one Ukrainian soldier was killed in a separate clash near the same area.
Speaking at the International Economic Forum in ST. Petersburg, Putin said that Russia will treat the choice of the Ukrainian people with respect.
More From This Section
He also said that Kremlin was prepared to work with whoever the Ukrainian people elected, adding that Russia intended to restore peace and order in the country.
He said that he was hopeful that Ukraine's new leader will end military actions in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian rebels seized several government buildings and have been fighting Ukrainian forces in deadly street battles for weeks, the report added.