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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 decided to go ahead with a referendum on autonomy on Sunday, despite a call from Russian President Vladimir Putin to postpone it.
The decision comes one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the vote to be postponed to create the conditions necessary for dialogue. The move was announced by separatist leaders after consulting supporters.
On Wednesday, Mr Putin called for a postponement to create the conditions necessary for dialogue.
Ukrainian authorities say they will disregard the results and that "anti-terror" operations will continue.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.
Separatists in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk are adamant the referendums will go ahead. The decision to press ahead was announced by separatist leaders in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. The leader in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said it had been unanimous.
One pro-Russian leader in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said the decision to press ahead had been unanimous.
The suggestion to postpone the vote may have come "from a person who indeed cares for the people of the south-east," he said, "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 said, "but we are the bullhorn of the people".
A spokesman for the Kremlin said "there was little information" and that it needed to further analyse the situation. A spokesman for the Kremlin said there was "little information" and that it needed to further analyse the situation.
But the BBC's Richard Galpin in Donetsk says that tensions are running high amid fears that a vote will exacerbate tensions and possibly plunge the country into a full blown civil war. The BBC's Richard Galpin in Donetsk says tensions are running high amid fears that a vote will exacerbate tensions and possibly plunge the country into a full-blown civil war.
'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 weighed in on Thursday, warning of the dangers of pressing ahead with the vote. The European Union weighed in on Thursday, warning that "such a vote could have no democratic legitimacy and would only further worsen the situation".
"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' decision 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' decision 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 "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.
Russian 'shift'Russian 'shift'
Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniyuk dismissed Mr Putin's calls to delay the referendum as "hot air".Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniyuk dismissed Mr Putin's calls to delay the referendum as "hot air".
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". But the Russian president appeared to depart further from policy when he said that presidential elections due on 25 May in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction".
His remarks came just days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd.His remarks came just days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd.
President Putin also announced he was ordering Russian troops back from the Ukrainian border. Meanwhile in the south-eastern port city of Mariupol, the city hall has changed for the third time in two days. Ukrainian forces are now back in control, after seizing it from pro-Russian activists on Wednesday - only to be expelled a few hours later.
But on Thursday, 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.