Ukraine has suspended military operations against pro-Russia militants during Easter, according to the country’s foreign minister. <br /><br />The stand-off comes as separatists continue to occupy many public buildings. <br /><br />They remain defiant, refusing to budge until Kyiv meets their demands. <br /><br />One woman, manning barricades in the city of Slaviansk, said: ‘‘We will take down the barricades when they go peacefully. When they accept our demands, when they listen to us. We want a regional referendum.’‘ <br /><br />Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia has said the anti-terrorist operation to remove the separatists will re-start if they do not quit government buildings. <br /><br />On Thursday, Ukraine and Russia, together with the EU and US, struck a diplomatic deal in the Swiss city of Geneva for separatists to withdraw and hand in their weapons. <br /><br />So far, however, there has been no sign of that happening. <br /><br />On Friday, Denis Pushilin, the self-styled leader of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” said he and his supporters would stay until a referendum was held on the region’s future status. <br /><br />Pro-Russian militias, who have occupied buildings in more than 10 Ukrainian cities, are also calling for the resignation of the country’s interim government.
