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Ukrainian leaders to hold third round of national unity talks Ukrainian leaders to hold third round of national unity talks
(about 1 hour later)
DONETSK, Ukraine — Ukrainian leaders were due to hold a third session of roundtable unity talks Wednesday in the south of the beleaguered country, picking another locale outside Kiev to show the interim government’s desire to build better relationships with regional representatives on their home turf.DONETSK, Ukraine — Ukrainian leaders were due to hold a third session of roundtable unity talks Wednesday in the south of the beleaguered country, picking another locale outside Kiev to show the interim government’s desire to build better relationships with regional representatives on their home turf.
The talks, the third in two weeks, were scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in the Black Sea city of Mykolaiv, which is not in the restive eastern part of the country. Acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia said the interim government was keen to forge better ties with representatives from around Ukraine. The talks, the third in two weeks, were scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in the Black Sea city of Mykolaiv, which lies outside the restive eastern part of the country. Acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia said the interim government was keen to forge better ties with representatives from around Ukraine.
The talks, although characterized mostly by venting and grandstanding, all on live television, produced a “memorandum of mutual understanding and peace” which was passed on to Ukraine’s parliament. The parliament passed the memorandum, which gave assurances about the status of the Russian language and lent support to a decentralization of power in the country, two key demands from eastern Ukrainians. No timeframe or specifics were given by the lawmakers. The talks, although characterized mostly by venting and grandstanding, all on live television, produced a “memorandum of mutual understanding and peace” which was passed on to Ukraine’s parliament. The parliament approved the memorandum, which gave assurances about the status of the Russian language and lent support to a decentralization of power in the country, two key demands from eastern Ukrainians. No time frame or specifics were given by the lawmakers.
Pro-Russian separatists, who have seized government buildings, clashed with Ukrainian troops, and declared new sovereign republics in the east of the country following a chaotic referendum, have not attended any of the talks. But Western diplomats have hailed their success in getting regional represesentatives of the country talking to each other. Pro-Russian separatists, who have seized government buildings, clashed with Ukrainian troops and declared new sovereign republics in the east of the country following a chaotic referendum, have not attended any of the talks. But Western diplomats have hailed the gatherings’ success in getting regional representatives of the country talking to each other.
The latest round of talks come four days before the country goes to the polls in May 25 national elections, which could determine the very make-up of the country and its alignment between the West and Russia. The separatists have said they will boycott the elections. The latest round of talks comes four days before the country goes to the polls in Sunday’s presidential and mayoral elections, which could determine the very makeup of the country and its alignment between the West and Russia. The separatists have said they will boycott the elections.
A plea by Ukraine’s richest man, billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, for demonstrations against the Russian-backed separatists every day at noon have so far met with a low-keyed response. At the first of those planned demonstrations on Tuesday in Mariupol, most of his own 300,000 workers stayed on their jobs.A plea by Ukraine’s richest man, billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, for demonstrations against the Russian-backed separatists every day at noon have so far met with a low-keyed response. At the first of those planned demonstrations on Tuesday in Mariupol, most of his own 300,000 workers stayed on their jobs.
Akhmetov also issued a statement Wednesday thanking everyone who participated, saying more might have joined if not for being intimidated by the threat of violence. And he urged people to stand up to separatists who he said were “imposters” who were deceiving residents in the Donets Basin. Akhmetov also issued a statement Wednesday thanking everyone who participated, saying more might have joined if not for being intimidated by the threat of violence. And he urged people to stand up to separatists who he said were “impostors” who were deceiving residents in the Donets Basin.
“Fight, fight, and fight again for your happiness, your present and your future!” the tycoon said. “Fight, fight and fight again for your happiness, your present and your future!” the tycoon said.
But many Ukrainians still saw Akhmetov’s gesture as a welcome, if symbolic, attempt to end the country’s fraternal strife while European leaders searched for a diplomatic solution to the crisis before Sunday’s presidential election. It followed his decision last week to form worker patrols to help police restore order on the streets of Mariupol, an industrial port city in southeastern Ukraine. But many Ukrainians still saw Akhmetov’s gesture as a welcome, if symbolic, attempt to end the country’s strife while European leaders searched for a diplomatic solution to the crisis before the elections. It followed his decision last week to form worker patrols to help police restore order on the streets of Mariupol, an industrial port city in southeastern Ukraine.
In Donetsk, several hundred pro-Ukrainian residents rallied just before noon Tuesday at Donbas Arena. Organizers played the noise of a deafening factory whistle and urged the crowd to download a version of it that they could sound at noon every day as a show of unity.In Donetsk, several hundred pro-Ukrainian residents rallied just before noon Tuesday at Donbas Arena. Organizers played the noise of a deafening factory whistle and urged the crowd to download a version of it that they could sound at noon every day as a show of unity.
But at the entrance to Akhmetov’s Ilyich steel plant in Mariupol, nobody stepped outside the factory gate when the plant whistle sounded at noon.But at the entrance to Akhmetov’s Ilyich steel plant in Mariupol, nobody stepped outside the factory gate when the plant whistle sounded at noon.
Minutes after the sirens sounded, Denis Pushilin, a leader of the separatists’ self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, sent out a tweet saying rebels would begin nationalizing the properties of “regional oligarchs” for their refusal to pay taxes to the Donetsk People’s Republic, in an apparent reference to Akhmetov. Minutes after the sirens sounded, Denis Pushilin, a leader of the separatists’ self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, tweeted that rebels would begin nationalizing the properties of “regional oligarchs” for their refusal to pay taxes to the People’s Republic, in an apparent reference to Akhmetov.
In Moscow, State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said Wednesday that Ukraine’s weekend election was unlikely to have any legitimacy due to Ukraine’s ongoing “military operations against civilians in the southeast,” as well as “suppression of dissent, the freedom of speech, [and] the freedom of information,” Russia’s Interfax news agency reported. In Moscow, State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said Wednesday that Ukraine’s weekend elections were unlikely to have any legitimacy due to Ukraine’s ongoing “military operations against civilians in the southeast,” as well as “suppression of dissent, the freedom of speech, [and] the freedom of information,” Russia’s Interfax news agency reported.
The country’s defense ministry said that Russian troops in regions along the Ukrainian border have, “in the past 24 hours,” packed up their gear and “are now heading to train stations and airfields for embarkation,” Interfax quoted the defense ministry as saying. The country’s Defense Ministry said that Russian troops in regions along the Ukrainian border have, “in the past 24 hours,” packed up their gear and “are now heading to train stations and airfields for embarkation,” according to Interfax.
But the commander of Russia’s air force also said Wednesday that a scheduled “international competition” — in which Russian war planes will “compete” in firing missiles and bullets at ground targets — would proceed in the vicinity of the Ukrainian border throughout the next week, despite Ukraine’s objections, the state’s Ria Novosti news agency said. But the commander of Russia’s air force also said Wednesday that a scheduled “international competition” — in which Russian warplanes will “compete” in firing missiles and bullets at ground targets — would proceed in the vicinity of the Ukrainian border throughout the next week, despite Ukraine’s objections, the state’s RIA Novosti news agency said.
The exercises will also occur on the day that Ukraine is due to hold elections.The exercises will also occur on the day that Ukraine is due to hold elections.
Support seemed thin for Akhmetov’s decision to use his clout to intervene.Support seemed thin for Akhmetov’s decision to use his clout to intervene.
Alexei Primenko, 63, a locksmith in the steel plant’s main office, was one of those who shrugged off the demonstration. He said workers pay lip service to Akhmetov’s calls for pro-Ukrainian support because they owe their salaries to him. But Primenko said their hearts are not in it.Alexei Primenko, 63, a locksmith in the steel plant’s main office, was one of those who shrugged off the demonstration. He said workers pay lip service to Akhmetov’s calls for pro-Ukrainian support because they owe their salaries to him. But Primenko said their hearts are not in it.
“What’s the demonstration going to give me?” he said.“What’s the demonstration going to give me?” he said.
Some said they did not heed the steel magnate’s call for a demonstration Tuesday because they blame him and other oligarchs as much as the separatists for dividing Ukraine.Some said they did not heed the steel magnate’s call for a demonstration Tuesday because they blame him and other oligarchs as much as the separatists for dividing Ukraine.
Yet they have no interest in seeing Donbas, as the Donets Basin is known, split off to join Russia, even if they also agree with separatist grievances against Kiev.Yet they have no interest in seeing Donbas, as the Donets Basin is known, split off to join Russia, even if they also agree with separatist grievances against Kiev.
At the burned-out city council building that pro-Russian separatists had previously seized, a dozen supporters of the Donetsk People’s Republic expressed contempt for Akhmetov’s demonstrations. Milling in the square, they said that Akhmetov’s workforce was a captive audience that had no choice but to participate in the demonstrations.At the burned-out city council building that pro-Russian separatists had previously seized, a dozen supporters of the Donetsk People’s Republic expressed contempt for Akhmetov’s demonstrations. Milling in the square, they said that Akhmetov’s workforce was a captive audience that had no choice but to participate in the demonstrations.
“They don’t support Akhmetov, but they’re afraid,” said Igor Grydin, 51, a businessman who helped to organize a self-rule referendum this month.“They don’t support Akhmetov, but they’re afraid,” said Igor Grydin, 51, a businessman who helped to organize a self-rule referendum this month.
A few blocks away, where separatists were building fortifications around a school building, Aleksandr Kyselev said he was not sure what to make of Akhmetov’s call to demonstrate. Kyselev said Akhmetov signed an agreement with the separatists, the elected mayor and the municipal police to restore order, possibly indicating that the tycoon might be willing to recognize and do business with the Donetsk People’s Republic. But the situation remains fluid, he said, and Akhmetov’s recent shifts have made it hard to see where the magnate stands.A few blocks away, where separatists were building fortifications around a school building, Aleksandr Kyselev said he was not sure what to make of Akhmetov’s call to demonstrate. Kyselev said Akhmetov signed an agreement with the separatists, the elected mayor and the municipal police to restore order, possibly indicating that the tycoon might be willing to recognize and do business with the Donetsk People’s Republic. But the situation remains fluid, he said, and Akhmetov’s recent shifts have made it hard to see where the magnate stands.
“This man is trying to do something,” Kyselev said. “He’s trying to solve the situation peacefully, but everything’s unclear.”“This man is trying to do something,” Kyselev said. “He’s trying to solve the situation peacefully, but everything’s unclear.”
Kunkle reported from Donetsk, Birnbaum from Kiev and Hauslohner from Moscow. Daniela Deane contributed from London. Birnbaum reported from Kiev and Hauslohner from Moscow. Daniela Deane contributed from London.