President Vladimir Putin has asked Russia’s upper house to approve the army’s use outside the country to support separatists in Ukraine, deputy defence minister Nikolay Pankov told a session of the chamber. “Negotiations have stalled. The Ukrainian leadership has taken the path of violence and bloodshed,” a uniformed Pankov said during an ongoing unscheduled session of the Federation Council called at Putin’s request. oc/mm/jj © Agence France-Presse