KIEV, April 14 (RIA Novosti) – Kiev hopes to resolve the crisis in eastern Ukraine soon, acting President Olexander Turchynov said Monday, a day after the country’s special forces launched an operation to suppress pro-federalization protesters in the region.
“I’m sure that soon the situation in the Donbas will be completely stabilized with the support of the people of the Donbas,” Turchynov said during a meeting with leaders of parliament.
The interim president announced plans Sunday to launch a “full-scale anti-terrorist operation,” to include army units, against pro-federalization protesters, giving them a deadline of 10 a.m. Moscow time on Monday to lay down their arms.
Protesters in Donetsk Region, part of the Donets Basin (Donbas) industrial zone in eastern Ukraine, said they had no plans to leave the government buildings they seized last week despite the deadline.
Turchynov said Monday a nationwide referendum could be held alongside presidential elections on May 25 to grant the Russian-speaking eastern Ukrainian regions greater autonomy.
Lavrov expressed doubts Monday that the coup-imposed Ukrainian authorities could “open up their eyes” and invite representatives from all regions in the country to talks in an effort to work out a constitution that would ensure the interests of all Ukrainians.
“I suspect that those who seized power in Kiev are not thinking about this now,” Lavrov said, commenting on the right of pro-federalization protesters in southeastern Ukraine to rally.
Beginning last month, protests have routinely rocked the eastern Ukrainian cities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv, with citizens demanding referendums on their regions’ status within the country. The protests have spread to other towns in the Donetsk region, including Slaviansk, Mariupol, Yenakiyevo and Kramatorsk.
Last Monday, pro-federalization activists declared the formation of the independent People’s Republic of Kharkiv and Donetsk People’s Republic.
