"DPR" and "LPR" announced the creation of Malorossiya (Little Russia) state with its capital in Donetsk.
The information resource of "DPR" separatists, DAN, stated that, in addition to members of these terrorist organizations, representatives of 19 regions of Ukraine took part in the ceremony of declaring the "constitutional act of the new state".
"We, the representatives of the former regions of Ukraine (with the exception of Crimea) declare the establishment of a new state, which is the successor of Ukraine. We agree that the new state will be called Malorossiya, since the very name of Ukraine has discredited itself," reads the text of the "constitutional act".
Donetsk becomes the capital of "Malorossiya" while Kyiv "remains a historical and cultural center without the status of the capital city," the leader of the "DPR" Oleksandr Zakharchenko said
"The flag of Bohdan Khmelnitsky is recognized as the national flag of Malorossiya. We proceed from the fact that the "Donetsk People's Republic", along with the "Luhansk People's Republic" remain the only territories of Ukraine, excluding Crimea, where the legitimate authority is preserved," Russian Interfax quoted Zakharchenko as saying.
Zakharchenko announced that a "state of emergency" would be introduced in "Malorossiya" for three years.
"We are proposing a new plan, a plan for the reintegration of the country. We have recently launched a state program to unite the peoples of Donbas. We offer all citizens of Ukraine a way to end the war through the re-establishment of the country. This is a peaceful way out. We have already held consultations with representatives of the authorities and business of the regions, and if the international community supports the idea. This is our first and last offer," he said.
In the spring of 2014, the "DPR" and "LPR" announced the merger into a "Novorossiya" but soon abandoned the integration idea.