- Referendum on self-govt will be held on Sunday in Ukraine’s eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk with a total population of7.3 million out of Ukraine’s 45 million.
- Authorities have promised to take the referendum outside the city to neighbouring villages which are currently inaccessible due to the roadblock set up the govt.
- Ukraine denounce the referendum as illegal warning people of a bleak future on cessation and urging them to accept round table talks on greater autonomy Kiev to be set up by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
- A poll conducted before commencement of anti-terrorist operations by the govt said 77% were in favour of a unified Ukraine, with a whopping 70% in the eastern provinces themselves. The operations may have however shifted the sentiments.
- Number of casualties being reported from the clashes have been on the rise prompting Germany and France to urge the authorities to refrain from offensive operations in the run up to the Presidential elections. They also threatened Russia with tough economic sanctions if the poll is derailed.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/ukraine-rebels-plan-referendum-today/article5997215.ece
Exams Perspective:
- Ukraine crisis