Russia's Vladimir Putin 'To Respect' Ukraine's Vote

Russias Vladimir Putin has said he will respect the outcome of Ukraine's Presidential election , speaking in St. Petersburg he said Russia was prepared to work with whoever was elected  Ukraine's President in Sunday's vote

It is the first time Mr. Putin has explicitly indicated that he will accept Ukraine's election result

Violence in the East , particulary in Donetsk and Luhansk has seriously disrupted preperations for the polls , Presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko , who is lagging behind front runner Petro Poroshenko in opinion polls , has called for a referendum to  be held next month on Ukraine joining Nato , describing membership as a "strategic solution on how to bring peace back to the Ukraine"

Nato Chief Anders Fogh Rassmussen said in February , before the insurgency in Eastern Ukraine erupted , that membership was still a possibility provided that Ukraine fullfilled the "necessary criteria" , but the absence of territorial disputes a key condition , Ukraine's friction with Russia over its annexation of Crimea are likely to overshadow any bid

Some Pro Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine have warned people against voting , while election officials and voter lists have been seized at gunpoint

At least 14 government soldiers were killed in clashes with Pro Russia separatists in the Volnovakha area South of the city Donetsk on Thursday , Ukrainian officials have also given details of an attack on  a military base on Thursday involving hundreds of militants near the village of Rubizhne , according to the defence ministry , up to 20 separttists were killed 

One Ukrainian soldier was killed overnight in another attack on a military convoy in the same village , the ministry added

Further deadly clashes were reported on Friday , between Pro  Russian separatists and self defence fighters in the Donetsk region

It understandd that the people of Ukraine want their country to emerge from this crisis , we will treat their choice with respect " President Putin told an economic forum in St. Petersburg

"It would have been better to hold a referendum and adopt a new constitution (viktor) Yanukovych is still in power " he added