Donetsk to hold referendum on May 11

Donetsk to hold referendum on May 11

DONETSK -- The self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk will go ahead and hold a referendum on independence as planned, on Sunday, May 11.

This decision was made on Thursday, despite Vladimir Putin's appeal to postpone the plebiscite.

Local authorities in Lugansk and Slavyansk will also hold a referendum in Sunday.

The EU, meanwhile, has said that the move "had no legitimacy" and could only worsen the situation.

Earlier, the Ukrainian government said they would continue military operations in the east of the country, regardless of a possible postponement of the referendum.

"The anti-terrorist operation will continue with the same strength, despite the presence of terrorists and rebels in the Donetsk region," said the head of the Ukrainian Security Service.

At the same time, authorities in Kiev indicated that they were "willing to talk with political parties and regional officials in the eastern regions, but not with terrorists." On the other hand, representatives of the self-proclaimed republic in Donetsk called for dialogue.

However, it is clear that the two sides are not ready to sit at the same table.

While Kiev says that "it is inconceivable to talk to the terrorists," in Donetsk they believe that "Kiev only deceives, and their signatures and words are worthless."

Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Wednesday for talks between the Ukrainian pro-Western government and separatists in the east of Ukraine, which Kiev interpreted as evidence that international pressure on Moscow was producing results.

Putin also called on pro-Russian activists to postpone the referendum and said...