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| Talks in East Aim to Ease Tensions in Ukraine | Talks in East Aim to Ease Tensions in Ukraine |
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| KIEV, Ukraine — Senior Ukrainian officials on Saturday held a second session of national “round-table” talks aimed at ending the country’s political crisis, this time in the eastern city of Kharkiv, in the region that has been besieged by pro-Russian separatist violence. | |
| The meeting brought together a broader cross-section of leaders from eastern Ukraine than the first set of talks, in an attempt to show the government’s commitment to dialogue. But representatives of the region said it would be difficult to resolve the crisis until the government ended military operations aimed at suppressing the separatists. | The meeting brought together a broader cross-section of leaders from eastern Ukraine than the first set of talks, in an attempt to show the government’s commitment to dialogue. But representatives of the region said it would be difficult to resolve the crisis until the government ended military operations aimed at suppressing the separatists. |
| “This is the only option in my opinion that can save Ukraine from division,” said Valeriy N. Holenko, chairman of Luhansk Regional Council. | “This is the only option in my opinion that can save Ukraine from division,” said Valeriy N. Holenko, chairman of Luhansk Regional Council. |
| Leaders in Kiev are pushing to tighten Ukraine’s ties with Europe, while many in the east prefer closer ties with Russia. | Leaders in Kiev are pushing to tighten Ukraine’s ties with Europe, while many in the east prefer closer ties with Russia. |
| At times, the officials from the east disagreed strenuously with representatives of the provisional government from Kiev, highlighting still formidable differences. But Western observers said it was important that the two sides finally seemed engaged, rather than talking past each other. | At times, the officials from the east disagreed strenuously with representatives of the provisional government from Kiev, highlighting still formidable differences. But Western observers said it was important that the two sides finally seemed engaged, rather than talking past each other. |
| The talks are largely aimed at reaching an accord on restructuring the government to increase local authority, ahead of a presidential election scheduled for May 25. Kiev supports a “decentralization” plan to give more budget authority to local governments, while the pro-Russia side from the east favors a federalization model that would give more overall power to governors. | The talks are largely aimed at reaching an accord on restructuring the government to increase local authority, ahead of a presidential election scheduled for May 25. Kiev supports a “decentralization” plan to give more budget authority to local governments, while the pro-Russia side from the east favors a federalization model that would give more overall power to governors. |
| The acting prime minister, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, said officials in Kiev were pushing ahead with the decentralization plan, but that the federalization proposal by Russia and its supporters seemed aimed at dividing the country by empowering regional governors who might be loyal to Moscow. “There was one Yanukovych,” he said sharply on Saturday, referring to the ousted, pro-Russian president, Viktor F. Yanukovych. “Now they want to have 27 Yanukovychs.” | The acting prime minister, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, said officials in Kiev were pushing ahead with the decentralization plan, but that the federalization proposal by Russia and its supporters seemed aimed at dividing the country by empowering regional governors who might be loyal to Moscow. “There was one Yanukovych,” he said sharply on Saturday, referring to the ousted, pro-Russian president, Viktor F. Yanukovych. “Now they want to have 27 Yanukovychs.” |
| There were repeated calls on each side for restoring order and security in eastern Ukraine, with local and regional officials saying Kiev should first withdraw its security forces, and Kiev officials saying that separatist militias should lay down their weapons. | There were repeated calls on each side for restoring order and security in eastern Ukraine, with local and regional officials saying Kiev should first withdraw its security forces, and Kiev officials saying that separatist militias should lay down their weapons. |
| Even so, there were reports of continued scattered violence in the eastern region on Saturday, including an exchange of gunfire near the Russian border after the governor of the self-declared separatist Luhansk People’s Republic was briefly detained by Ukrainian border guards early Saturday morning. Local news services reported that the governor, Valery Bolotov, was freed after the shootout and had returned to a local government building, with no casualties reported during the gunfight. | Even so, there were reports of continued scattered violence in the eastern region on Saturday, including an exchange of gunfire near the Russian border after the governor of the self-declared separatist Luhansk People’s Republic was briefly detained by Ukrainian border guards early Saturday morning. Local news services reported that the governor, Valery Bolotov, was freed after the shootout and had returned to a local government building, with no casualties reported during the gunfight. |
| Mr. Bolotov was returning to Ukraine after seeking medical treatment in Russia for injuries from what an official in the Luhansk People’s Republic said was an assassination attempt. | Mr. Bolotov was returning to Ukraine after seeking medical treatment in Russia for injuries from what an official in the Luhansk People’s Republic said was an assassination attempt. |
| The round-table session began with a plea for comity by former President Leonid M. Kravchuk, who urged participants to respect the rules and focus on the Kiev government’s plan for decentralization. | The round-table session began with a plea for comity by former President Leonid M. Kravchuk, who urged participants to respect the rules and focus on the Kiev government’s plan for decentralization. |
| The talks, however, quickly became contentious, with Inna Bohoslovskaya, a member of Parliament, demanding that leaders from eastern Ukraine explain who was financing the separatists. The eastern leaders, in response, demanded to know who backed the civil uprising in Kiev that led to the ouster of Mr. Yanukovych, whose base of political support was in the east. | The talks, however, quickly became contentious, with Inna Bohoslovskaya, a member of Parliament, demanding that leaders from eastern Ukraine explain who was financing the separatists. The eastern leaders, in response, demanded to know who backed the civil uprising in Kiev that led to the ouster of Mr. Yanukovych, whose base of political support was in the east. |
| Some participants representing eastern Ukraine insisted that Mr. Yanukovych had been removed illegally because Parliament did not formally impeach him after he fled to Russia. Lawmakers had voted overwhelmingly to strip Mr. Yanukovych of power, but Ukraine’s Constitution has no provision for such a step. | Some participants representing eastern Ukraine insisted that Mr. Yanukovych had been removed illegally because Parliament did not formally impeach him after he fled to Russia. Lawmakers had voted overwhelmingly to strip Mr. Yanukovych of power, but Ukraine’s Constitution has no provision for such a step. |
| In the end, despite much debate, there was no resolution, and it was unclear when or where the talks might continue. | In the end, despite much debate, there was no resolution, and it was unclear when or where the talks might continue. |
| Wolfgang Ischinger, who was designated to represent the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe at the talks, urged officials to reach a peaceful settlement. “Ukrainians,” he said toward the start of the talks, “please use words, not swords.” | Wolfgang Ischinger, who was designated to represent the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe at the talks, urged officials to reach a peaceful settlement. “Ukrainians,” he said toward the start of the talks, “please use words, not swords.” |