Wants Ukrainian Army To Lift Legs From Their Territory, Leader Of The Donetsk People's Republic: We Will Win

JAKARTA - Leaders of Russia-backed separatists breaking away from Ukrainian territory say Kyiv government forces should withdraw from claimed territory and take their weapons with them.

24, the leader of the Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin told Russian state media such a scenario would be the optimal scenario.

Russia this week recognized two breakaway Ukrainian territories, including the Pushilin region, as independent states, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic.

The decision has drawn sanctions from the West and anger from Ukraine, which has named the likes of Russia as Pushilin's proxies and wants its territory back.

Separatists claim much larger territory in Ukraine than they currently control.

Pushilin earlier said on Wednesday he wanted to peacefully resolve border issues with Ukraine through talks, but was entitled to ask Russia for help.

But, he also told a news conference the situation in their long-running conflict had become critical, the separatists had accelerated the mobilization of forces, with healthy people between 18 and 55 having been called to fight.

"We will win. With people like this, we will win. With a country like that, with a great Russia, which we respect and value. "We have no right to lose, or even doubt our victory."

It is known that Russia's recognition of the two self-proclaimed territories on Monday was deemed illegal by Western countries, bringing new sanctions against Moscow.

The move has taken the Ukraine crisis to a new phase, as an agreement Russian President Vladimir Putin signed with separatist leaders on Monday provided a legal pretext for Russia to send troops to support the separatists, who now control only a small part of the eastern part of Ukraine they hold. claim.

Asked if they would try to expand their territory, Pushilin said: "We are not at that stage yet, we are at the stage when the enemy forces are in the line of contact and can move to attack at any time."

Separately, Ukraine vehemently denies accusations by separatists that it is determined to retake territory by force, and has rejected a series of Russian and separatist reports of alleged attacks.

Speaking with Pushilin, Andrey Turchak, a senior member of Russia's ruling party, said no power in the world can change the legal outcome of Russia's recognition.

"For us, the slogan 'Russia has not abandoned its own people', these are not empty words. I am happy that we are all united around this idea, the idea of Russia, the restoration and preservation of the Russian world," Turchak said.

He said there was no way any agreement could be reached with the current Ukrainian government