Ukraine: separatists insist secession vote will proceed
- 10 years ago
Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region insist that Sunday’s independence referendum will go ahead, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin calling for the vote to be postponed.
Putin had asked ‘the representatives in south-eastern Ukraine, supporters of federalisation, to postpone the independence referendum in order to create the necessary conditions for dialogue.”
On Thursday, he said that the Ukraine crisis was an effect of “irresponsible politics” and that an equal dialogue with Kyiv and separatists in the southeast of the country was key to easing tensions.
The European Union said the referendum should not take place, as it would have no democratic legitimacy and would “aggravate the situation.”
Putin had asked ‘the representatives in south-eastern Ukraine, supporters of federalisation, to postpone the independence referendum in order to create the necessary conditions for dialogue.”
On Thursday, he said that the Ukraine crisis was an effect of “irresponsible politics” and that an equal dialogue with Kyiv and separatists in the southeast of the country was key to easing tensions.
The European Union said the referendum should not take place, as it would have no democratic legitimacy and would “aggravate the situation.”