Posted on 04/14/2014 9:07:58 AM PDT by elhombrelibre
Pro-Russia separatists who said they were part of a new Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine appealed on Monday for Russian President Vladimir Putin to help defend them against Ukrainian government forces.
Speaking at a news conference at the headquarters of the city administration of Slovyansk, a separatist leader asked Putin to personally direct your attention to the unfolding situation and help us as much as you can.
The plea for help came hours after a Kyiv-set deadline expired under which separatists occupying government building in eastern Ukraine were to disarm or face an assault by Ukrainian security forces.
Meanwhile, President Putin is watching the situation in Ukraine with great concern, his spokesman said on Monday.
Asked about a call by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine for Putin to help defend them against government forces, Dmitry Peskov said that there were a great many such appeals coming.
The U.S. and other Western powers are accusing Russia of fomenting the unrest as a possible pretext for intervention.
Referendum not ruled out
Also on Monday, Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, says he is not against a nationwide referendum on what kind of country Ukraine should be.
Turchynov said he is certain a majority would support a united and independent Ukraine, possibly giving broader local rights to the east. He said such a vote could be held at the same time as the May 25 presidential election.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday he believes Russian-speaking Ukrainians in the eastern part of the country should be part of drafting a new constitution.
Pro-Russia demonstrators who have seized Ukrainian government buildings in several cities, including yet another in Horlivka on Monday, are demanding a referendum on whether to split with Ukraine and join Russia - similar to last month's vote in Crimea.
Turchynov threatened to launch a "large-scale anti-terrorist operation" against those who have taken over the buildings.
However, a Monday morning deadline passed without any sign of movement by Ukrainian security forces.
Russia blasted at UN
Russia came under heavy criticism from world powers at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council late Sunday, as armed pro-Russia separatists seized more government buildings in eastern Ukraine.
U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power and British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant accused Russia of orchestrating the take-overs.
Power said the instability in Ukraine was "completely man-made." She said it was "written and choreographed" by Russia. Grant called on the Security Council to warn Russia against "further military escalation."
Russia, which had called the meeting, rejected the charges.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called on the international community to demand that those who are in power in Kyiv stop war on their own citizens.
“anti-fascist” heh, if you are not being paid to post this, contact the Russian embassy immediately, they owe you money.
“Waving a false flag. These thugs taking over Ukrainian government buildings are not the friends and neighbors of the locals. They are Russian special forces. They are probably the same people that killed the protesters in Kiev.”
There is no probably about it. Its the same people.
LOL
No I mean these people from the neighborhood. Are you stupid or what?
Got to admire Putin a bit. Without agreeing or disagreeing with his politics, at least he’s not hiding who he is and that he’s never surrendered in the Cold War.
Here is the relevant section dealing with elections.
Presidential elections will be held as soon as the new Constitution is adopted but no later than December 2014.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.