DONETSK
Pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine have decided to unite the regions that declared their independence from Ukraine after Sunday’s referendum where residents of the Donetsk region voted in favor on independence.
Denis Pushilin, the self-proclaimed leader of Donetsk People’s Republic, said that Donetsk and Lugansk, where referendums were held last week, will be acting in unison.
Pushilin said that following on from Sunday's referendum where 90 percent of voters favored secession on Sunday’s referendum, the declaration of independence gives them self-autonomy for the future.
“What we aim from now on is independence and annexation to Russia” he continued.
On April 15, Ukrainian forces launched operations against separatist militias in the Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine, and U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel supported the Ukraine government in describing these actions as “anti-terror” operations.
In a statement issued by Lugansk's Regional Council, they asked Kiev authorities to stop punitive operations against pro-Russia separatists and urged to broker a deal for exchanging hostages between Russia and Kiev.
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