The Russian parliament’s upper chamber has voted overwhelmingly to revoke President Vladimir Putin’s right to order military intervention in Ukraine. <br /><br />The decision is effective immediately.<br /><br />Ukraine is struggling to stamp out a rebellion by pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country.<br /><br />Kyiv has agreed a limited ceasefire to give rebels time to lay down their weapons or leave the country.<br /><br />But the rebel attacks have not stopped and Ukrainian President Petro Poreshenko has threatened to end the truce.<br /><br />The ceasefire is supposed to last until Friday, when Kyiv plans to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union. <br /><br />EU leaders may then consider further sanctions against Russia over its role in Ukraine.
