I'm putting some related news here - in regard to comments made by the (breakaway) Lugansk Republic leader in recent talks with the Ukrainian regime.
http://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/1967406.htmlIgor Plotnisky, the head of the Lugansk Republic, was compelled to state the following to Kiev (as well as Moscow): "We will not place ourselves under the jurisdiction [sovereignty] of Ukraine. This is the decision of our people, and I have not the right to change it."
"Под юрисдикцию Украины мы не пойдем. Это решение народа, и я не имею право его менять", —According to a fresh leak, the last round of the Minsk talks ended up in a diplomatically atypical way. After hearing the demands of the junta presented by Ukraine's former president and godfather of its oligarchs, Leonid Kuchma, the Lugansk and Donetsk representatives rose up and said, "Leonid Danilovich [Kuchma], go and f**k yourself," and left. http://dnr-news.com/…/11168-poyavilis-skandalnye-podrobnost…"
- Vladimir Suchan
"Leonid Danilovich, go and f**k yourself."
I'd say they're pretty convinced about their independence.