If yesterday we had questions [6]about the half life of the effectiveness of the latest diplomatic de-escalation of Ukraine tensions 'achieved' in Geneva, following news that both Ukraine would continue its anti-terrorist operation and that fighting had broken out in various east Ukraine locations after the agreement, today any questions have been swept aside following news that the Ukraine "separatist" milita, who after all is the primary object of Ukraine "anti-terrorist activities", has announced that they will only leave the occupied east Ukraine buildings if the interim government in Kiev resigns. Denis Pushilin, a spokesman of the self-appointed Donetsk People's Republic, told reporters that the insurgents do not recognize the Ukrainian government as legitimate.
Indeed, in an amusing twist, the militia has flipped the Geneva agreement on its head, alleging that if they are to abide by a signed document, so should the "illegitimate" government, which as a reminder took power following a US-assisted coup, even though an explicit agreement was signed on February 21 [7]between Ukraine and western powers previously retaining Yanukovich as president of the country, and ushering in presidential elections later in 2014. Needless to say, that agreement was made null and void within hours of signing. It is only logical, and perfectly expected, that so should this one.
"This is a reasonable agreement but everyone should vacate the buildings and that includes Yatsenyuk and Turchynov," he said referring to the acting Ukrainian prime minister and president.
More from AP [8]:
Ukraine and Russia on Thursday agreed to take tentative steps toward calming tensions along their shared border after more than a month of bloodshed. But Pushilin, speaking at the insurgent-occupied regional administration's building in Donetsk, said the deal specifies that all illegally seized buildings should be vacated and in his opinion the government in Kiev is also occupying public buildings illegally.
The deal calls for disarming all paramilitary groups and the immediate return of all government buildings seized by pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine as well as pro-West right-wing protesters in Kiev. But none of the government buildings seized across eastern Ukraine has yet been vacated, according to local media.
Needless to say, neither the Ukrainian government nor as the Right Sector movement, whose activists are occupying Kiev's city hall and a cultural center in the capital, have commented on the call for buildings in Kiev to be vacated. One can assume they will hardly comply.
So what is the militia's demand?
Pushilin on Friday reiterated the insurgents' call for a referendum that he said will allow "self-determination of the people."
Or precisely what Russia wanted all along: a Crimea-style endgame, where the people are 'given the right' to determine their own future, as long as that future means becoming part of Russia in the coming weeks or months.
Finally, for those who enjoy updates from the ground, here is a BBC producer on location:
America kills south east! Slogan outside #donetsk [9] republic HQ on east #ukraine [10] pic.twitter.com/o4s46LHoPb [11]
— Dina Newman (@Dinanewman) April 18, 2014 [12]
#Donetsk [13] republic HQ: slogans: no to fascism, no to EU, no to US. #Ukraine [14] east pic.twitter.com/NpnP7UFgef [15]
— Dina Newman (@Dinanewman) April 18, 2014 [16]
Molotov cocktails and bricks on the ready at #Donetsk [13] republic HQ, East #Ukraine [14] pic.twitter.com/3AuPQcUCp5 [17]
— Dina Newman (@Dinanewman) April 18, 2014 [18]
Glory to Berkut! (Special forces used against #Maidan [19]) slogan on #donetsk [9] republic HQ east #Ukraine [14] pic.twitter.com/CNDfiSVP1H [20]
— Dina Newman (@Dinanewman) April 18, 2014 [21]
Inside #donetsk [9] republic HQ: ready to resist the storming of the building. east #ukraine [10] pic.twitter.com/RNBBJrJexa [22]
— Dina Newman (@Dinanewman) April 18, 2014 [23]
'I get 1000 Hr per month as my pension. I cannot pay the bills. Putin, please save us!' #Donetsk [13] republic female volunteer is crying
— Dina Newman (@Dinanewman) April 18, 2014 [24]
'#Kiev [25] junta want power. That's why they want early election" #donetsk [9] republic activist in east #Ukraine [14]
— Dina Newman (@Dinanewman) April 18, 2014 [26]
#Donetsk [13] republic presser: "We do not trust Kiev. Remember 21 Feb? An agreement was signed with #Yanukovich [27] but not honored"
— Dina Newman (@Dinanewman) April 18, 2014 [28]
#donetsk [9] republic presser: "we will not vacate the building. We are getting calls from towns and villages who are joining the republic."
— Dina Newman (@Dinanewman) April 18, 2014 [29]
#Donetsk [13] republic presser: "thinking about a confederation with #Kharkiv [30] and Lugansk regions" in east #ukraine [10]
— Dina Newman (@Dinanewman) April 18, 2014 [31]
#Donetsk [13] republic presser: "we are the #Russian [32] bear which is waking up. We've been patiently waiting for the past 24 years" east #Ukraine [14]
— Dina Newman (@Dinanewman) April 18, 2014 [33]