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| Pro-Russian separatists vow to proceed with referendum despite Putin’s plea | Pro-Russian separatists vow to proceed with referendum despite Putin’s plea |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| KIEV, Ukraine — Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine vowed Thursday to go ahead with a referendum on independence, defying Russian President Vladimir Putin’s surprise call for Sunday’s vote to be postponed. | |
| The coordinating committee of a group attempting to establish a “Donetsk People’s Republic” announced its decision following a meeting Thursday. | |
| Denis Pushilin, the group’s leader, said the vote by the 78 deputies was unanimous. | Denis Pushilin, the group’s leader, said the vote by the 78 deputies was unanimous. |
| “People want the referendum,” Pushilin told a news conference. | “People want the referendum,” Pushilin told a news conference. |
| Shortly afterward, a separatist group in Luhansk said it, too, would proceed with the vote, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported. | |
| Roman Lyagin, chairman of the Central Election Committee of the self-styled People’s Republic, said members of the separatist group believed they would lose the trust of their followers if they postponed the referendum. | Roman Lyagin, chairman of the Central Election Committee of the self-styled People’s Republic, said members of the separatist group believed they would lose the trust of their followers if they postponed the referendum. |
| “If we postpone the referendum, there won’t be a referendum,” Lyagin said. | “If we postpone the referendum, there won’t be a referendum,” Lyagin said. |
| The decision to proceed with the vote was an apparent rebuff to Putin, whose remarks Wednesday took a more conciliatory tone than previously and appeared to be an attempt to pull Ukraine back from an escalating cycle of violence. | The decision to proceed with the vote was an apparent rebuff to Putin, whose remarks Wednesday took a more conciliatory tone than previously and appeared to be an attempt to pull Ukraine back from an escalating cycle of violence. |
| Putin’s statement that he may be willing to recognize a Ukrainian national election later this month also marked a shift from the hard line that Putin and other top Russian officials have taken toward the acting government in Kiev, which took power after pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych fled in February in the face of popular protests. | Putin’s statement that he may be willing to recognize a Ukrainian national election later this month also marked a shift from the hard line that Putin and other top Russian officials have taken toward the acting government in Kiev, which took power after pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych fled in February in the face of popular protests. |
| Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk dismissed Putin’s statement as a hollow gesture from the man whose nation is actively stirring separatist tensions in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters in Kharkiv, Yatsenyuk said Putin was trying to “sell air.” | Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk dismissed Putin’s statement as a hollow gesture from the man whose nation is actively stirring separatist tensions in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters in Kharkiv, Yatsenyuk said Putin was trying to “sell air.” |
| Yatsenyuk said the referendum that Putin now wants to postpone lacked any legitimacy in the first place and called on Russia to focus instead on withdrawing its support for “subversive groups in the territory of Ukraine” and carrying out its previous promises to resolve the crisis through diplomacy. | Yatsenyuk said the referendum that Putin now wants to postpone lacked any legitimacy in the first place and called on Russia to focus instead on withdrawing its support for “subversive groups in the territory of Ukraine” and carrying out its previous promises to resolve the crisis through diplomacy. |
| “My personal position is that we need to conduct this referendum because the people of Donbas want it,” said Boris Litvinov, a leader of the referendum effort. Donbas refers to the Donets Basin, the heart of the eastern Ukrainian area that the separatists want to carve away from the central government in Kiev. Litvinov said the referendum would be conducted peacefully despite the tense standoff between separatist militants and Ukrainian forces in the area. | |
| Feeding a sense that the let-up in tensions was fleeting, Putin on Thursday led major military exercises that simulated a response to a massive attack on Russian soil, defense officials said. Russian submarines fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles, successfully striking targets in northern and northeastern Russia, and Putin himself presided over a third ICBM strike, Interfax reported. A Tupolev TU-95S bomber also fired cruise missiles in Russia’s western military district. | |
| Russian Defense officials said that the strikes were part of exercises that were planned in November. | Russian Defense officials said that the strikes were part of exercises that were planned in November. |
| “We have all had a chance to see for ourselves the high readiness and concerted action of our country’s strategic offensive and defensive forces,” Putin said at the Kremlin on Thursday. | “We have all had a chance to see for ourselves the high readiness and concerted action of our country’s strategic offensive and defensive forces,” Putin said at the Kremlin on Thursday. |
| “Militant nationalism that once led to the emergence of the Nazi ideology is again rearing its head in Europe,” Putin added, according to Interfax. “We won’t dwell on each particular hotbed. We know where we face this danger.” | “Militant nationalism that once led to the emergence of the Nazi ideology is again rearing its head in Europe,” Putin added, according to Interfax. “We won’t dwell on each particular hotbed. We know where we face this danger.” |
| In eastern Ukraine, the reaction of some pro-Russian separatists reflected uncertainty about whether Putin’s efforts would actually rein in violence, including whether Russia retained control over the bands of armed separatists who have taken over cities across the region and whether his proposals were palatable to the Ukrainians. | In eastern Ukraine, the reaction of some pro-Russian separatists reflected uncertainty about whether Putin’s efforts would actually rein in violence, including whether Russia retained control over the bands of armed separatists who have taken over cities across the region and whether his proposals were palatable to the Ukrainians. |
| “All of us are interested in settling this crisis, in settling it as soon as possible, accounting for the interests of all Ukrainian citizens irrespective of their place of residence,” Putin said Wednesday, speaking in Moscow alongside Swiss President Didier Burkhalter, who is leading negotiations as chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). | “All of us are interested in settling this crisis, in settling it as soon as possible, accounting for the interests of all Ukrainian citizens irrespective of their place of residence,” Putin said Wednesday, speaking in Moscow alongside Swiss President Didier Burkhalter, who is leading negotiations as chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). |
| Putin said that putting off the referendum on whether to establish independence from Kiev would help create the “necessary conditions of dialogue” with the acting central government. | Putin said that putting off the referendum on whether to establish independence from Kiev would help create the “necessary conditions of dialogue” with the acting central government. |
| Putin’s statements came after a week of escalating violence as Ukrainian authorities attempted to regain control over the east, largely without success. Many Ukrainians fear fresh violence on Victory Day, the annual May 9 holiday that holds deep significance for Russians because it marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union during World War II. | Putin’s statements came after a week of escalating violence as Ukrainian authorities attempted to regain control over the east, largely without success. Many Ukrainians fear fresh violence on Victory Day, the annual May 9 holiday that holds deep significance for Russians because it marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union during World War II. |
| Putin also expressed qualified support for Ukraine’s May 25 presidential election, a vote aimed at legitimizing a new government that would replace the current interim administration. Kremlin officials had previously said they would consider the election illegitimate if it were held in a climate of violence, while the United States and its allies had warned against delay or disruption. | Putin also expressed qualified support for Ukraine’s May 25 presidential election, a vote aimed at legitimizing a new government that would replace the current interim administration. Kremlin officials had previously said they would consider the election illegitimate if it were held in a climate of violence, while the United States and its allies had warned against delay or disruption. |
| The Obama administration offered a muted response to Putin’s remarks, emphasizing the need for actions in addition to words. | The Obama administration offered a muted response to Putin’s remarks, emphasizing the need for actions in addition to words. |
| “We would certainly welcome a meaningful and transparent withdrawal” of Russian troops deployed along Ukraine’s border, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. “To date, there has been no evidence that such a withdrawal has taken place.” | “We would certainly welcome a meaningful and transparent withdrawal” of Russian troops deployed along Ukraine’s border, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. “To date, there has been no evidence that such a withdrawal has taken place.” |
| Ukraine had never recognized the planned referendum as legitimate, and officials in Kiev reacted dismissively to Putin’s move. Even before Putin’s request for a delay, the referendum’s success had been in doubt, with each city organizing its own balloting and popular enthusiasm limited at best. | Ukraine had never recognized the planned referendum as legitimate, and officials in Kiev reacted dismissively to Putin’s move. Even before Putin’s request for a delay, the referendum’s success had been in doubt, with each city organizing its own balloting and popular enthusiasm limited at best. |
| The separatists called the referendum to decide whether the eastern region of Ukraine, the country’s industrial heartland, should declare independence and become the sovereign republic of Novorossiya, the czarist-era name for part of the area. | The separatists called the referendum to decide whether the eastern region of Ukraine, the country’s industrial heartland, should declare independence and become the sovereign republic of Novorossiya, the czarist-era name for part of the area. |
| It was not immediately clear whether the separatists would heed Putin’s request for a postponement. According to the Reuters news agency, Denis Pushilin, a separatist leader in Donetsk, said, “We have the utmost respect for President Putin. If he considers that necessary, we will of course discuss it.’’ | It was not immediately clear whether the separatists would heed Putin’s request for a postponement. According to the Reuters news agency, Denis Pushilin, a separatist leader in Donetsk, said, “We have the utmost respect for President Putin. If he considers that necessary, we will of course discuss it.’’ |
| Federalization push | Federalization push |
| Apart from the Sunday vote, the Kremlin has pushed for a version of federalization in Ukraine that would keep eastern Ukraine, with its large ethnic Russian population, within Russia’s orbit. Ukrainian leaders in Kiev have said they would not agree to such a move, which would delegate authority over law enforcement and foreign policy to the country’s regions. | Apart from the Sunday vote, the Kremlin has pushed for a version of federalization in Ukraine that would keep eastern Ukraine, with its large ethnic Russian population, within Russia’s orbit. Ukrainian leaders in Kiev have said they would not agree to such a move, which would delegate authority over law enforcement and foreign policy to the country’s regions. |
| Putin said a presidential election would be “a movement in the right direction, but only if all citizens of Ukraine understand that their rights are guaranteed.’’ | Putin said a presidential election would be “a movement in the right direction, but only if all citizens of Ukraine understand that their rights are guaranteed.’’ |
| The Russian leader also said Wednesday that he had pulled back some forces from Ukraine’s borders. But the claim was immediately contradicted by U.S. and NATO officials, who said they had “seen no change” in Russian troops in the region. | The Russian leader also said Wednesday that he had pulled back some forces from Ukraine’s borders. But the claim was immediately contradicted by U.S. and NATO officials, who said they had “seen no change” in Russian troops in the region. |
| “We would know,” Col. Steven C. Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters. Senior Russian defense officials also said late last month that they were pulling troops back but did not appear to do so, Western officials said. | “We would know,” Col. Steven C. Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters. Senior Russian defense officials also said late last month that they were pulling troops back but did not appear to do so, Western officials said. |
| Andriy Parubiy, who leads Ukraine’s equivalent of the National Security Council, said Putin’s remarks should be seen as confirmation that the Kremlin has been stoking the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine all along. If Putin was making a concession, Parubiy said, it was because of the military campaign that Ukrainian forces have launched in recent days to regain control in the east. | Andriy Parubiy, who leads Ukraine’s equivalent of the National Security Council, said Putin’s remarks should be seen as confirmation that the Kremlin has been stoking the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine all along. If Putin was making a concession, Parubiy said, it was because of the military campaign that Ukrainian forces have launched in recent days to regain control in the east. |
| “This is also evidence of the fact that the Ukrainian government is going in the right direction and successfully protecting its national interests,” Parubiy said through an interpreter during an interview at his office in Kiev on Wednesday. | “This is also evidence of the fact that the Ukrainian government is going in the right direction and successfully protecting its national interests,” Parubiy said through an interpreter during an interview at his office in Kiev on Wednesday. |
| Parubiy said he had just met with local separatist leaders in the eastern regional capitals of Donetsk and Luhansk, armed with a presidential decree of amnesty for those willing to lay down their arms. He said the two sides could negotiate a satisfactory solution on autonomy and other issues without Russia’s interference. | Parubiy said he had just met with local separatist leaders in the eastern regional capitals of Donetsk and Luhansk, armed with a presidential decree of amnesty for those willing to lay down their arms. He said the two sides could negotiate a satisfactory solution on autonomy and other issues without Russia’s interference. |
| Avoiding escalation | Avoiding escalation |
| Analysts said Wednesday that Putin may also have been searching for a way to avoid having to send in troops if the situation escalated further. Doing so would almost certainly have resulted in Ukrainian forces fighting back — unlike in Putin’s swift move in March to annex the Crimean Peninsula — and could have quickly diminished his popularity at home, which has risen to vertiginous heights during his handling of the crisis. | Analysts said Wednesday that Putin may also have been searching for a way to avoid having to send in troops if the situation escalated further. Doing so would almost certainly have resulted in Ukrainian forces fighting back — unlike in Putin’s swift move in March to annex the Crimean Peninsula — and could have quickly diminished his popularity at home, which has risen to vertiginous heights during his handling of the crisis. |
| President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also said last week that any attempt to disrupt the May 25 election would trigger broad sectoral economic sanctions against Russia. | President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also said last week that any attempt to disrupt the May 25 election would trigger broad sectoral economic sanctions against Russia. |
| Burkhalter said the OSCE would suggest a road map in Moscow for Ukraine that would include a cease-fire, a de-escalation of tensions, dialogue and elections. A proposal that he outlined Tuesday ahead of the meeting with Putin offered a nonbinding poll to be held in conjunction with the elections that would sample citizens’ attitudes about how much control they want the central government in Kiev to have over its far-flung regions. | Burkhalter said the OSCE would suggest a road map in Moscow for Ukraine that would include a cease-fire, a de-escalation of tensions, dialogue and elections. A proposal that he outlined Tuesday ahead of the meeting with Putin offered a nonbinding poll to be held in conjunction with the elections that would sample citizens’ attitudes about how much control they want the central government in Kiev to have over its far-flung regions. |
| Speaking in Kiev before Putin made his surprise call for postponement of the separatist referendum, British Foreign Secretary William Hague told reporters that a failure to hold the May 25 election as scheduled would be “a terrible blow for democracy.” | Speaking in Kiev before Putin made his surprise call for postponement of the separatist referendum, British Foreign Secretary William Hague told reporters that a failure to hold the May 25 election as scheduled would be “a terrible blow for democracy.” |
| In interviews in the eastern city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian forces battled Wednesday with separatists, detaining dozens but leaving a motley crew of them to occupy the city council building, residents said they wished for a return to peace and normalcy, and most welcomed Putin’s statement. | In interviews in the eastern city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian forces battled Wednesday with separatists, detaining dozens but leaving a motley crew of them to occupy the city council building, residents said they wished for a return to peace and normalcy, and most welcomed Putin’s statement. |
| “I was born in Voronezh in Russia, and I have relatives there, but nobody should interfere in the internal affairs of another country,’’ said a shopkeeper who gave her name only as Anna. She held up her hand and said “Ukraine.” She did not want to be fully identified for fear of retaliation. | “I was born in Voronezh in Russia, and I have relatives there, but nobody should interfere in the internal affairs of another country,’’ said a shopkeeper who gave her name only as Anna. She held up her hand and said “Ukraine.” She did not want to be fully identified for fear of retaliation. |
| Birnbaum reported from Moscow. Denyer reported from Mariupol, Ukraine. Alex Ryabchyn in Donetsk and Karen DeYoung and Ernesto Londoño in Washington contributed to this report. | Birnbaum reported from Moscow. Denyer reported from Mariupol, Ukraine. Alex Ryabchyn in Donetsk and Karen DeYoung and Ernesto Londoño in Washington contributed to this report. |