Pro-Moscow insurgents in eastern Ukraine declared independence May 12 and sought to join Russia, undermining upcoming presidential elections, strengthening the Kremlin's hand and putting pressure on Kiev to hold talks with the separatists following the May 11 referendum on self-rule.
Russia signaled it has no intention of subsuming eastern Ukraine the way it annexed Crimea in March. Instead, Moscow is pushing to include eastern regions in negotiations on Ukraine's future. (AP)
ウクライナ東部の新ロシア派は5月11日、独立の是非を問う住民投票を行なった。翌12日にはその結果を受け、独立を宣言し、ロシア編入を要請した。
The Japan Times ST: May 23, 2014