The Washington Post: Ukrainian Separatists Claim to Create New Country

One group of separatists announced that eastern Ukraine is a new country, one that will be close with Russia. A map displayed during the announcement described all of Ukraine, except Crimea, as Malorossiya, or Little Russia. “The move seems to undermine the faltering Minsk peace agreement, a 2015 deal reached between Russian-backed rebels and the government in Kiev that sought to end the violence in Ukraine's industrial east,” reports Adam Taylor for the Washington Post. “Notably, both Russia and other separatist movements in eastern Ukraine also distanced themselves from the move.” The declaration comes at a time when US leadership has pulled back on criticism of Russia and Europe seeks to secure its energy supply. Ukraine, as part of the Russian Empire and former Soviet Union, has a long history with the large neighbor to the east. The international community has condemned the move. – YaleGlobal