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Ukraine crisis: Rebels defiant over new self-rule law | Ukraine crisis: Rebels defiant over new self-rule law |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A senior Ukrainian rebel leader has told the BBC that a new law granting self-rule to parts of the east will not sway the demand for independence. | A senior Ukrainian rebel leader has told the BBC that a new law granting self-rule to parts of the east will not sway the demand for independence. |
Andrei Purgin said there were no plans to develop any political relationship, federal or otherwise, with Ukraine. | Andrei Purgin said there were no plans to develop any political relationship, federal or otherwise, with Ukraine. |
But he said there were "positives" in the move by MPs to grant self-rule and an amnesty to pro-Russian rebels. | But he said there were "positives" in the move by MPs to grant self-rule and an amnesty to pro-Russian rebels. |
He said it could be used as the basis for dialogue but rebels would not give up on a desire for "the Russian world". | He said it could be used as the basis for dialogue but rebels would not give up on a desire for "the Russian world". |
'Invitation to negotiate' | |
The new law, which affects Donetsk and Luhansk regions and is in line with 5 September ceasefire, was condemned by some Ukrainian MPs as "capitulation". | The new law, which affects Donetsk and Luhansk regions and is in line with 5 September ceasefire, was condemned by some Ukrainian MPs as "capitulation". |
The truce halted months of conflict between separatists and government forces. It has held despite sporadic fighting between the two sides over the past 12 days. | The truce halted months of conflict between separatists and government forces. It has held despite sporadic fighting between the two sides over the past 12 days. |
At the scene: BBC's Paul Adams in Luhansk | At the scene: BBC's Paul Adams in Luhansk |
We come across the bleak, twisted remains of a government armoured convoy, annihilated as it retreated from Luhansk two weeks ago. | We come across the bleak, twisted remains of a government armoured convoy, annihilated as it retreated from Luhansk two weeks ago. |
It's a terrifying scene of complete destruction. A dozen or more tanks, trucks and armoured personnel carriers ripped open and blown apart amid craters and bare, blackened tree trunks. | It's a terrifying scene of complete destruction. A dozen or more tanks, trucks and armoured personnel carriers ripped open and blown apart amid craters and bare, blackened tree trunks. |
This was ferocious work, involving more precise firepower than the rebels can possibly muster. It's possible Russian helicopters were involved. | This was ferocious work, involving more precise firepower than the rebels can possibly muster. It's possible Russian helicopters were involved. |
The grim place serves as a reminder that if the ceasefire collapses totally, Ukraine's powerful neighbour to the east is unlikely to stand by and watch. | The grim place serves as a reminder that if the ceasefire collapses totally, Ukraine's powerful neighbour to the east is unlikely to stand by and watch. |
Grim Luhansk wary of Ukraine's shaky truce | Grim Luhansk wary of Ukraine's shaky truce |
Mr Purgin, the first vice-prime minister of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, said that the MPs' move was in effect "an invitation to the negotiation table". | Mr Purgin, the first vice-prime minister of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, said that the MPs' move was in effect "an invitation to the negotiation table". |
"The first positive thing is that we are no longer described as terrorists. Secondly, according to this law we have the right to foreign and political economic relationships." | "The first positive thing is that we are no longer described as terrorists. Secondly, according to this law we have the right to foreign and political economic relationships." |
The rebels in the east have been battling Ukrainian troops since seizing a number of towns in April. | The rebels in the east have been battling Ukrainian troops since seizing a number of towns in April. |
Mr Purgin said Ukraine's parliament only voted on laws for Ukraine, and "we have our own higher council which makes our own laws". | Mr Purgin said Ukraine's parliament only voted on laws for Ukraine, and "we have our own higher council which makes our own laws". |
He also accused Europe of quietly wanting "the ethnocide of Russian speakers in Ukraine". | He also accused Europe of quietly wanting "the ethnocide of Russian speakers in Ukraine". |
"There are thousands of dead who were fighting for the rights of Russian-speaking citizens. For the rights to be part of the Russian world. For the right to be Russians," he said. | "There are thousands of dead who were fighting for the rights of Russian-speaking citizens. For the rights to be part of the Russian world. For the right to be Russians," he said. |
Mr Purgin added: "Ukraine is the most rotten, poor, corrupt country of Europe. It's the cesspool of Europe." | Mr Purgin added: "Ukraine is the most rotten, poor, corrupt country of Europe. It's the cesspool of Europe." |
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the new legislation giving the special status to parts of Donetsk and Luhansk for three-years would guarantee the "sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence" of Ukraine, while paving the way for decentralisation. | Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the new legislation giving the special status to parts of Donetsk and Luhansk for three-years would guarantee the "sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence" of Ukraine, while paving the way for decentralisation. |
The amnesty does not cover the shooting down of the MH17 passenger plane in July. | The amnesty does not cover the shooting down of the MH17 passenger plane in July. |
Western leaders believe rebels shot down the Malaysia Airlines jet with a Russian missile - a charge the rebels and the Kremlin deny. | Western leaders believe rebels shot down the Malaysia Airlines jet with a Russian missile - a charge the rebels and the Kremlin deny. |
The legislation means that pro-Russian separatists taken prisoner in the fighting should now be released. | The legislation means that pro-Russian separatists taken prisoner in the fighting should now be released. |
Separatists holding government buildings are now supposed to leave them, hand over captured Ukrainian soldiers and other prisoners and surrender their weapons. | Separatists holding government buildings are now supposed to leave them, hand over captured Ukrainian soldiers and other prisoners and surrender their weapons. |
Rebels accused of other "grave" crimes will not be covered by the new amnesty either. | Rebels accused of other "grave" crimes will not be covered by the new amnesty either. |
But some Ukrainian lawmakers described the self-rule law as a sell-off of Ukraine in what they see as a war against Russia. | But some Ukrainian lawmakers described the self-rule law as a sell-off of Ukraine in what they see as a war against Russia. |
At least 3,000 people have been killed in the conflict and more than 310,000 internally displaced in Ukraine, the UN says. | At least 3,000 people have been killed in the conflict and more than 310,000 internally displaced in Ukraine, the UN says. |
Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of backing the separatists with soldiers and heavy weapons. The Kremlin denies doing so. | Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of backing the separatists with soldiers and heavy weapons. The Kremlin denies doing so. |
Free trade | Free trade |
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian and European parliaments also voted to ratify a major EU-Ukraine association agreement that aims to bring the ex-Soviet republic closer to the EU. | On Tuesday, the Ukrainian and European parliaments also voted to ratify a major EU-Ukraine association agreement that aims to bring the ex-Soviet republic closer to the EU. |
The agreement lies at the root of Ukraine's crisis. | The agreement lies at the root of Ukraine's crisis. |
It was former President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign the deal last November that triggered mass protests and his eventual fall from power. | It was former President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign the deal last November that triggered mass protests and his eventual fall from power. |
The agreement would make Ukraine compliant with EU standards in the areas of human rights, security and arms control, and would remove trade barriers. | The agreement would make Ukraine compliant with EU standards in the areas of human rights, security and arms control, and would remove trade barriers. |
But negotiations with Russia last week led to the free-trade part of the agreement being postponed until 2016. | But negotiations with Russia last week led to the free-trade part of the agreement being postponed until 2016. |
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Has the recent violence affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in eastern Ukraine? Has the recent violence affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |