Ukraine rebels propose new state called Little Russia

RUSSIAN-BACKED rebels fighting against Kiev yesterday proposed the creation of a new “state” that would replace Ukraine and have its capital in Donetsk, the rebel bastion.

Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, would be reduced to the status of a “historical and cultural centre”, the rebels announced. The proposed state would be called Malorossiya, a tsarist-era name meaning “Little Russia” that once described most of the area covering modern-day Ukraine and is considered offensive by many Ukrainians.

Representatives from the insurgents’ self-declared Donetsk “People’s Republic” and other regions had agreed to “declare the establishment of a new state, which is the successor of Ukraine”, said rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko, who claimed that the move was supported by representatives of 19 Ukrainian regions.

However, Vladimir Degtyarenko, the leader of the self-declared Lugansk “People’s Republic”, expressed doubts about “the appropriateness of this decision”.

The surprise proposal was immediately rejected by Ukraine’s pro-western authorities in Kiev, who have been locked in a conflict with the Moscow-supported rebels since 2014 that has cost the lives of 10,000 people.

Petro Poroshenko, the Ukrainian president, promised he would “restore sovereignty over Donbass and Crimea” and accused Mr Zakharchenko of being a Russian puppet.

The Kremlin said the plan warranted analysis, but declined to say if it was aware of it before the announcement. Two Russian politicians called creating a new “state” in Ukraine “unavoidable” and “necessary.”