DONETSK, June 26 (RIA Novosti) - The parliament of the union of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics ratified a constitutional act that proclaims the creation of the Union of the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk during its first session on Thursday.
The constitutional act, which was passed unanimously, states that the Union of the People’s Republics (UPR) is “a democratic, confederate, and state based on justice” that acknowledges and protects the equal rights of citizens. According to the constitution, the UPR is open to the accession of other states and is a denuclearized zone.
On Tuesday, the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics declared the official union of their constitutions and the formal creation of Novorossiya as a confederate Union of People's Republics.
Since mid-April, Kiev has been conducting a military operation to suppress independence supporters in the southeast of Ukraine who refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new Ukrainian authorities after the February coup and formed the people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in a May 11 referendum.
Last week, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered a ceasefire for all military personnel for one week. Later, Donetsk and Luhansk independence forces also promised to stop all attacks until June 27. The truce has been shaky since, with both parties blaming each other for bouts of violence committed after the agreement had been made.
