Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russian forces defy calls to disarm

FXStreet (Bali) - The fluid situation in the Ukrainian crisis continued over the weekend, with pro-Russian protesters in eastern Ukraine refusing pleas to disarm, in what could be understood as an act of rebellion against the Kiev government, who has recently toned down its aggressive rhetoric on military action for the sake of seeking a more diplomatic solution.

According to Bloomberg: "PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s government suspended anti-terrorist operations in eastern Ukraine and said it was ready to pursue constitutional revisions. A protest leader in Donetsk refused to disarm and vacate seized property until Yatsenyuk’s administration steps down."

Meanwhile,state-run Rossiya 24 news station reports that five people were killed in gunfight in Slaviansk, "when gunmen attacked a checkpoint manned by pro-Russian separatists near the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk, with three of the dead pro-Russian separatists who control Slaviansk, and the other two were from the group that attacked their checkpoint", ITV notes.