Ukraine parliament ratifies EU pact

Ukrainian lawmakers look at a TV screens as the European Union ratified an agreement to deepen economic and political ties with the Ukraine in Kiev, Ukraine, on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014. Ukraine's parliament ratified an agreement to deepen economic and political ties with the European Union on Tuesday, and passed legislation to grant autonomy to the rebellious east as part of a peace deal.
Ukrainian lawmakers look at a TV screens as the European Union ratified an agreement to deepen economic and political ties with the Ukraine in Kiev, Ukraine, on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014. Ukraine's parliament ratified an agreement to deepen economic and political ties with the European Union on Tuesday, and passed legislation to grant autonomy to the rebellious east as part of a peace deal.

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine's parliament ratified an agreement to deepen economic and political ties with the European Union on Tuesday, and passed legislation to grant autonomy to the rebellious east as part of a peace deal.

The ratification vote draws a line under the issue that last year sparked Ukraine's crisis, which resulted in the ousting of the president, the annexation of Crimea by Russia and a war with the Russia-backed separatists that has killed more than 2,600 people.

Earlier in the day, the parliament in closed session approved two bills on granting greater autonomy to the rebellious regions in the east as well as amnesty for many of those involved in the fighting. The bills are part of a tenuous peace process that saw a cease-fire called Sept. 5 but that has been repeatedly violated.

The city council in Donetsk said three people were killed in shelling overnight and Col. Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine's national security council, said three Ukrainian servicemen were killed over the past day. Clashes continue in the area around the airport in Donetsk, the largest city under rebel control.

The legislation on autonomy falls short of the eastern rebels' aim for complete independence, but rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko told Russia's RIA Novosti news agency that the rebel leadership would study the measures.

Read Wednesday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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