Separatists leader Zakharchenko rules out Malorossiya as name

DONETSK – The idea of Malorossiya was productive but ill-timed, the leader of the Donetsk People’s republic (DPR), Alexander Zakharchenko, said.

“The very idea of re-establishing a state thrust into a deep economic and political crisis and not making any attempt to conduct radical reforms to federalize the country and to find a way out of the collapse has won broad support. Already one can say that the name will not be Malorossiya, because many feel repulsed by it,” Zakharchenko said in an official statement released by his press office.

DPR leaders have received many interesting and various proposals and comments, “which shows that this discussion was not started in vain,” Zakharchenko said.

“Kyiv must realize that further pursuit of such a mortal policy and uncooperativeness will lead to the country’s break-up,” the DPR leader said.