MAKEYEVKA (Ukraine), October 29 (RIA Novosti) – The prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said Tuesday that he sees no reason for the eastern Ukrainian republic to unite with the neighboring Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).
"There are also elections [slated] in the Luhansk People's Republic. But the developments of the [two] republics are different and the scenarios in the republics are different. It would be illogical to unite the two republics at this time," Alexander Zakharchenko said at a meeting with local factory personnel.
In February, after Ukraine underwent a regime change and new authorities came to power, the LPR and the DPR refused to recognize legitimacy of the new government. Based on the results of the referendums held in May, where a vast majority of voters supported independence, the two republics declared their sovereignty in a move that triggered a violent confrontation between LPR and DPR militia and Kiev-led forces.
Following months of bloodshed, the warring sides signed a ceasefire agreement on September 5. In addition, Kiev agreed to adopt a law giving the Donetsk and Luhansk regions special statuses for three years and ensuring early local elections there.
The heads of the DPR and the LPR, however, want full independence for the whole territory within the borders of the respective administrative entities in Ukraine. Both self-proclaimed republics have set elections of regional leaders and legislative bodies for November 2.
