The pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have proclaimed a new state. The rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as re...
The pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have proclaimed a new state. The rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as representatives of other Ukrainian territories, now form a state called "Little Russia" according to their own data. Ukraine, meanwhile, reaffirms its claim to the territories.
The rebels want to draw up a constitution and put it to popular vote, said rebel leader Alexander Sachchenenkov on Tuesday to the separatist Donetzker Nachrichtenagentur. The new state will replace Ukraine and integrate the former capital Kiev into its territory. So far, the rebels have organized themselves in so-called People's Republics, which are not internationally recognized.
Rebel leader: "successor to Ukraine"
Sakchenchenko said that the former Ukrainian state could not be restored. "We, the representatives of the regions of the former Ukraine, except the Crimea, proclaim the formation of a new state that is successor to Ukraine," he explained.
Russia did not initially comment on the announcement. The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, however, reaffirmed his struggle. "Ukraine will restore sovereignty over the Donbass and the Crimea," he said in a visit to Georgia. Sakkchenko was "not a political figure, but a Marionette, which transmits the messages of the Kremlin".
After the overthrow of Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovich in 2014, Russia had annexed the Crimean peninsula and supported pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, which began an armed insurrection. In fighting with government forces, more than 10,000 people have been killed.
Minsk agreement moves far into the distance
In 2015, Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France agreed on a roadmap for settling the conflict in Minsk. After that, the rebel territories are to be given autonomy, but will come under the control of the government in Kiev. The Ukrainian government should allow regional elections there. As a result, the fighting diminished, but the political parts of the agreement were not implemented.
The proclamation of Tuesday puts this agreement into doubt. The federal government therefore condemned the proclamation of the state as "completely unacceptable". Separatist Sakhalenko has no legitimacy to speak for this part of Ukraine, declared a government spokesman. "We expect Russia to immediately condemn this step, and that it neither respects nor acknowledges it," he added. A solution to the conflict could only be achieved by implementing the Minsk Agreement.
"It is obvious that the unbelievers, with the one-page proclamation of a pseudostate 'Minor Russia' at Donbas, have given a definite denial to the Minsk agreement," said Green politician Marieluise Beck. Russia's criticism of this step is "unbelievable" as the rebels "are fully dependent on the military and financial support of the Kremlin."
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