The office of Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that it does not wish to annex eastern Ukraine where "self-rule" referendums have overwhelmingly supported secession, but called on the Kiev government to open dialogue with the separatists. The referendums, organized by pro-Russian insurgents in Ukraine's Russian-speaking eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, claim a vote of about 90 percent in favor of forming their own sovereign nations. Separatist leaders have also expressed interest in joining the Russian Federation. Although Russia annexed the Crimea region after a similar referendum in March, they have disavowed any interest in doing the same with Ukraine's eastern regions and state that they wish the dispute to be resolved peacefully.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has reinvigorated fears of Cold War Era politics and increased tensions between Russia and the West. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged Ukraine opposition groups in May to "lay down their weapons" and come to a peaceful resolution to the conflict. In April, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that it has begun preliminary investigations into alleged crimes against humanity perpetrated during the unrest in Ukraine. Earlier that month, the UN approved a resolution invalidating Crimea's secession from Ukraine less than a week after the EU imposed sanctions on Russia for annexing the region.

(Published by Jurist – May 12, 2014)