Majority of Ukrainians in favor of their country staying united

Pro-Russian separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine have decided to go ahead with their referendum planned on May 11 for a vote on greater autonomy from Kiev despite Russian President Vladimir Putin asking on Wednesday to postpone the vote.

Mr. Putin's request to postpone the referendum in hopes to begin deescalating the crisis in Ukraine was turned down on Thursday by the 78 self-appointed  "deputies" representing the pro-Russians in eastern Ukraine.

The decision was unanimous, Donetsk leader, Denis Pushilin, stated.

Vladimir, one of the "deputies", said that they respected President Putin but that they have their "own opinion and the people want a referendum like they had in Crimea."

"We just voice what the people want and demonstrate through their actions," Mr. Pushilin said.

The EU stated that the referendum would have "no democratic legitimacy" and that it would only "worsen the situation."

But it seems that majority of Ukrainians actually want their country to stay united according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center in Ukraine and Russia.

The survey, which took place after Russia's annexation of Crimea, but before the violence in Odessa last Friday, found that 77% of Ukrainians want the country to stay united, 14% believe that regions which wish to secede should be allowed to do so, and 9% are unsure.

In western Ukraine, 93% want the country to remain united, 4% are for regions being allowed to secede, and 2% are undecided.

Eastern Ukraine found more support for those wishing to secede (18%), but 70% want to stay united.

The Russian speaking population had even more support for secession (27%), but surprisingly more wish for Ukraine to stay united (58%).

Crimea, however, had more wishing for regions to be allowed secede with 54%, while only 12% want Ukraine to remain united.

The survey also found that only 41% of Ukrainians think the current interim government in Kiev is having good influence over the crisis.

60% of western Ukrainians believe the interim government is good compared to eastern Ukrainians' 24%.

Pew Research Center's survey also asked Ukrainians what kind of influence the EU, the US, and Russia were having: 33% believe the EU has had a bad influence while 45% believe it has had a good influence; the US is tied with 38% think it has had a bad or good influence; and Russia has had the worst influence (67%) with only 22% thinking it has had a good influence.

All in all, despite claims otherwise by the Kremlin and pro-Russian separatist, it seems that majority of Ukrainians wish for the country to remain united.  However, as the situation in Ukraine worsens, that position may very well change.