The leader of a breakaway region in eastern Ukraine has announced plans to create a new state called Little Russia, with its capital in rebel-held Donetsk.<br /><br />The controversial move has brought fears that the peace process – which has only partially stopped the fighting – could be further undermined.<br /><br />The new state’s name Malorossiya was the term used to describe large parts of the country when they were part of the Russian empire and is offensive to Ukrainians.<br /><br />Announcing the move, the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic said what he called Ukraine’s “junta regime” was destroying the country, causing the people to suffer.<br /><br />“We need to help them, but not through war, unless we are pushed into it by Kyiv. Together we must build a new country,” Alexander Zakharchenko told a news conference.<br /><br />The declaration brought an angry response from the Ukrainian president, visiting the Georgian capital Tbilisi. <br /><br />Petro Poroshenko vowed in return that Ukraine would restore control over Donbass and Crimea – and pointed the finger at Moscow implying it was pulling rebel leaders’ strings.<br /><br />“You should understand that (Alexander) Zakharchenko and (Igor) Plotnitsky, they are not political figures, they are puppets – muppet show – which translates the messages they receive from Russia,” he said, speaking in English.<br /><br />Russia denies accusations that it has delivered arms and provided troops to back rebels in eastern Ukraine.<br /><br />The declaration casts a shadow over the faltering Minsk agreement. France and Germany, closely involved in the peace process, condemned the idea.<br /><br />Ukraine Separatists Criticized Over Call For Creation Of ‘Little Russia’ https://t.co/Az4WxiwmjR— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 18, 2017<br />
