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Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russia rebel vote to go ahead Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russia rebel vote to go ahead
(35 minutes later)
Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine have said they will not postpone a referendum on autonomy planned for Sunday.Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine have said they will not postpone a referendum on autonomy planned for Sunday.
The decision comes one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin urged delaying the vote to create the conditions necessary for dialogue. The decision comes one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the vote to be postponed to create the conditions necessary for dialogue.
Ukrainian authorities said "anti-terror" operations would continue regardless of the rebels' decision. Ukrainian authorities say they will disregard the results and that "anti-terror" operations will continue.
Millions of ballot papers have been prepared for the vote.Millions of ballot papers have been prepared for the vote.
"The referendum will take place on 11 May. We are getting ready, ballot papers are being printed, everything remains in force. Nothing will change, it will not be delayed," Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted activists in the eastern region of Luhansk as saying. Separatists in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk are adamant the referendums will go ahead.
A pro-Russian activist leader in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said the decision to press ahead with Sunday's plebiscite was unanimous. "We are getting ready, ballot papers are being printed, everything remains in force. Nothing will change, it will not be delayed," activists in Luhansk are quoted as saying.
Pro-Russian activist leader in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said the decision to press ahead with Sunday's plebiscite was unanimous.
The suggestion to postpone the vote may have come "from a person who indeed cares for the people of the south-east," he told the AP news agency, "but we are the bullhorn of the people".The suggestion to postpone the vote may have come "from a person who indeed cares for the people of the south-east," he told the AP news agency, "but we are the bullhorn of the people".
'Illegitimate referendum''Illegitimate referendum'
Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of Ukraine's Russian-speaking population against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev.Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of Ukraine's Russian-speaking population against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev.
Ukrainian authorities have rejected activist demands for greater autonomy and troops have been battling to regain official buildings occupied by rebels in the east.Ukrainian authorities have rejected activist demands for greater autonomy and troops have been battling to regain official buildings occupied by rebels in the east.
The European Union warned of the dangers of pressing ahead with the vote. The European Union weighed in on Thursday, warning of the dangers of pressing ahead with the vote.
"Such a vote could have no democratic legitimacy and would only further worsen the situation," a spokesperson for the EU foreign policy chief told reporters."Such a vote could have no democratic legitimacy and would only further worsen the situation," a spokesperson for the EU foreign policy chief told reporters.
The separatists' resolution to hold the referendum comes as a Pew Research Center poll released on Thursday shows that a strong majority of Ukrainians want their country to remain unified, even in the largely Russian-speaking east.The separatists' resolution to hold the referendum comes as a Pew Research Center poll released on Thursday shows that a strong majority of Ukrainians want their country to remain unified, even in the largely Russian-speaking east.
On Wednesday, the White House said the "illegitimate, illegal" plebiscite should be cancelled rather than postponed.On Wednesday, the White House said the "illegitimate, illegal" plebiscite should be cancelled rather than postponed.
The US and the European Union have imposed sanctions against several Russian individuals and businesses and threatened wider measures if Moscow interferes further in eastern Ukraine.The US and the European Union have imposed sanctions against several Russian individuals and businesses and threatened wider measures if Moscow interferes further in eastern Ukraine.
Sunday's planned referendum was seen as a potential trigger for that.Sunday's planned referendum was seen as a potential trigger for that.
Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniyuk dismissed Mr Putin's calls to delay the referendum as "hot air".
Russian 'shift'Russian 'shift'
But in what appeared to be a further shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin also said on Wednesday that this month's presidential elections in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction". Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniyuk dismissed Mr Putin's calls to delay the referendum as "hot air".
His remarks came days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd. But the Russian president appeared to depart further from policy when he said that this month's presidential elections in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction".
On Wednesday, President Putin also announced he was ordering Russian troops back from the Ukrainian border. His remarks came just days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd.
But one day after Mr Putin's comments, Nato said there was still no sign of any Russian troop withdrawal. President Putin also announced he was ordering Russian troops back from the Ukrainian border.
But on Thursday, one day after those comments, Nato said there was no sign of any Russian troop withdrawal.
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.