The "people's assembly" of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" has decided against postponing a referendum on the region's status, set for May 11, the co-chairman of the "Donetsk People's Republic government" Myroslav Rudenko, told Interfax over the phone.
“The referendum will be held on May 11,” he said.
On May 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on representatives of the southeastern regions of Ukraine to postpone the referendum scheduled for May 11.
“We are asking representatives of the southeastern regions of Ukraine and federalization supporters to reschedule the referendum scheduled for May 11,” Putin said at a press conference after a meeting with Swiss President and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter.
Putin said Russia calls on representatives of the southeastern regions of Ukraine to do this “to create the conditions needed for dialogue” with the Kyiv administration.
