Pro-Russian rebel leader in east Ukraine unveils plan for new state
Source: Reuters
MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - The pro-Russian rebel leader of a breakaway region in eastern Ukraine proposed on Tuesday replacing Ukraine with a new federal state, in comments that could further undermine a 2015 peace deal that is already faltering.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko rejected the idea, describing Alexander Zakharchenko, leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), as part of "a puppet show", with Russia pulling his strings in order to relay a message.
France and Germany, which are involved in diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine crisis, also condemned the proposal.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian agencies that Zakharchenko's statement was Zakharchenko's own initiative and that the Kremlin had learned about it from media reports.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-rebels-declaration-idUSKBN1A31AX?il=0
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