DHAKA: Russia's President Putin has said he will respect the outcome of Ukraine's presidential election on Sunday.

Speaking at an economic conference in St Petersburg on Friday, Vladimir Putin also said he believed Ukraine had descended into "full-scale civil war".

Meanwhile, pro-Russia separatists have clashed with self-defence fighters in the eastern city of Donetsk.

Violence in the east, particularly Donetsk and Luhansk, has seriously disrupted preparations for the polls.

Separatist insurgents in the two regions declared independence after disputed referendums earlier this month and have pledged to derail Sunday's vote.

After the votes on May 11, Moscow said it respected the results and called for peaceful "practical implementation" of the "will of the people", even though Mr Putin had urged a delay to the referendums days before.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1940 HRS, May 23, 2014