Islam Times - Putin Warns of All-Out Civil War in Ukraine, Vows to Respect Vote

Islam Times - As he stressed that Russia is to respect the outcome of Ukraine's presidential election, President Vladimir Putin warned that the country had descended into all-out civil war.

The Russian strongman said he would "respect the choice of Ukrainian people".

"We are today working with those people who control the government and after the election we will of course work with the newly elected authorities," he said.

Meanwhile, Putin accused the United States of choreographing a "coup" in February against president Viktor Yanukovych who upset the West by ditching a closer alliance with Europe and seeking Moscow's economic help instead.

"The Ukrainian crisis arose because Yanukovych postponed the Association Agreement with the European Union," Putin told an economic forum in his native city of Saint Petersburg.

"This was followed by a coup backed by our American friends and as a result there is chaos and full-scale civil war."

On the other hand, at least seven people were killed in fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-federalization activists outside the eastern industrial hub of Donetsk on Friday, a day after the deaths of 18 soldiers in the heaviest loss for the Ukraine military since the conflict began.