This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27320806
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine crisis: Separatists to debate Putin referendum call | Ukraine crisis: Separatists to debate Putin referendum call |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine are due to consider a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to delay referendums on autonomy. | Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine are due to consider a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to delay referendums on autonomy. |
| Separatist leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk say they will put the matter before "people's councils". | Separatist leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk say they will put the matter before "people's councils". |
| The referendums are due to take place on Sunday and millions of ballot papers have been prepared. | The referendums are due to take place on Sunday and millions of ballot papers have been prepared. |
| Mr Putin has said putting off the vote could help create the conditions necessary for dialogue. | Mr Putin has said putting off the vote could help create the conditions necessary for dialogue. |
| In what appeared to be a shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin also said this month's presidential elections in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction". | In what appeared to be a shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin also said this month's presidential elections in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction". |
| His remarks came days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd. | His remarks came days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd. |
| Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of the largely Russian-speaking people in the south and east against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev. | Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of the largely Russian-speaking people in the south and east against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev. |
| Ukraine's interim authorities have rejected pro-Russian activists' demands for greater autonomy and sent in troops to seize back official buildings occupied by rebels. | Ukraine's interim authorities have rejected pro-Russian activists' demands for greater autonomy and sent in troops to seize back official buildings occupied by rebels. |
| "We respect Putin's stance," said Denis Pushilin, a pro-Russian leader in the eastern city of Donetsk. | "We respect Putin's stance," said Denis Pushilin, a pro-Russian leader in the eastern city of Donetsk. |
| "He is a balanced politician. Therefore we will submit his proposal to the people's council." | "He is a balanced politician. Therefore we will submit his proposal to the people's council." |
| In Luhansk, a statement from pro-Russian groups quoted by Russian news agency Ria Novosti said: "We are putting this forward for discussion by all the people because Putin has appealed to supporters of federalisation, therefore a decision will be for all the people of Luhansk." | In Luhansk, a statement from pro-Russian groups quoted by Russian news agency Ria Novosti said: "We are putting this forward for discussion by all the people because Putin has appealed to supporters of federalisation, therefore a decision will be for all the people of Luhansk." |
| The White House said the "illegitimate, illegal" vote should be cancelled rather than postponed. | The White House said the "illegitimate, illegal" vote should be cancelled rather than postponed. |
| And Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk dismissed Mr Putin's calls as "hot air". | And Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk dismissed Mr Putin's calls as "hot air". |
| The US and the European Union have imposed sanctions against several Russian individuals and businesses and threatened wider measures if Moscow interferes further. | |
| Sunday's planned referendum was seen as a potential trigger for that. | Sunday's planned referendum was seen as a potential trigger for that. |
| Confrontations | Confrontations |
| On Wednesday, President Putin also announced he was ordering Russian troops back from the Ukrainian border. | On Wednesday, President Putin also announced he was ordering Russian troops back from the Ukrainian border. |
| However, Nato and the Pentagon said they had seen no signs of a Russian pull-back. | However, Nato and the Pentagon said they had seen no signs of a Russian pull-back. |
| On Ukraine's forthcoming presidential elections, Mr Putin said: "I would like to stress that... while they are a move in the right direction, [they] will not decide anything if all the citizens of Ukraine fail to understand how their rights are protected after the elections are held." | On Ukraine's forthcoming presidential elections, Mr Putin said: "I would like to stress that... while they are a move in the right direction, [they] will not decide anything if all the citizens of Ukraine fail to understand how their rights are protected after the elections are held." |
| Unrest in the south and east of Ukraine has worsened since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in March. | Unrest in the south and east of Ukraine has worsened since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in March. |
| That followed the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February by pro-Western protesters. | That followed the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February by pro-Western protesters. |
| On Thursday there was further unrest in the southern port of Mariupol, where pro-Russian separatists had earlier retaken the city hall after it was briefly seized from them by Ukrainian government forces. | |
| The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in the city reports that residents were surprised to hear of President Putin's call to postpone the referendums - pro-Russian activists continued distributing flyers and banners still flew. | |
| Our correspondent met one woman, Lena, who said of President Putin: "We'll listen to him...but we will decide". |