Separatists man a checkpoint outside the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.<br/> <br />A billboard says "we need peace."<br/> <br />But they are not giving up the fight.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRO-RUSSIAN REBEL, NO NAME GIVEN, SAYING (INTERRUPTED IN THE END BY MORTAR ATTACK):<br/> <br />"We are defending our motherland. And we don't want some Western people to come here and rule over us. We just won't simply allow this. There are a lot of miners here, a lot of builders, ordinary people..."<br/> <br />After the Ukrainian military pushed the rebels out of their stronghold in Slaviansk last week, they are now trying to hold ground in Donetsk, a city of nearly a million people.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRO-RUSSIAN REBEL, NOM DE GUERRE "LEOPAKHA", SAYING:<br/> <br />"This is our land. We are not touching them. It is them who are coming. We want a peaceful life, we don't need them coming here and bombing us. That's why we are here."<br/> <br />While the separatists are still given a warm welcome in the city -- t
