KIEV, June 1 - Vimpelcom, Russia??™s No. 2 cell phone company, on Thursday withdrew its $5 billion bid for Kyivstar, a Ukrainian operator, dashing hopes for an end to a war between Russian and Norwegian shareholders.

Telenor of Norway and Alfa Group of Russia have been holding talks since February trying to define which of these companies will de-facto control the to-be-created cell phone giant.