Russia “respects” E. Ukraine poll, hopes for “civilized” implementation

Miroslav Rudenko, a rebel leader in Donetsk, one of the two Ukrainian provinces that voted for self-rule Sunday – according to unconfirmed results – praised the Kremlin’s response. Moscow voiced respect for the poll’s outcome and hope for its “civilized” implementation.  Rudenko said the separatists will now subordinate the power structures in the two regions to the self-declared People’s Republic. EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels are preparing to impose more limited sanctions on Moscow after the US and Europe denounced the referenda as illegal. Rudenko described as unlikely the Crimea scenario of annexation to Russia, preferring a federal arrangement with Kiev. Without a political resolution, he said, the people’s republic would take up arms and defend themselves.