Donetsk has finalized its draft application to join the Russian Federation.

The press service of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine announced on May 17 that the republic had completed an official draft request to the Russian Foreign Ministry for admission into the Russian Federation, but did not specify a date for submission.

Prime Minister Oleksander Borodai of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic believes that if Donetsk has close economic ties with Russia, its economy will develop. Previously, on May 12th, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic submitted a request to Moscow to consider annexing the region to the Russian Federation, after a large majority of people in eastern Ukraine voted in favor of regional autonomy.

Representatives of the self-proclaimed government held a press conference in the city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. (Source: AFP/VNA)

Speaking at a press conference that same day, Prime Minister Borodai declared that "there will be no presidential elections on the territory of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic." He affirmed that the Donetsk leadership would not negotiate with the Ukrainian interim government while Kiev's troops remained present on the territory of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

On the same day, after the conclusion of the second "National Unity Roundtable" in Kharkiv, former Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk announced that the third "National Unity Roundtable" is scheduled to be held in Cherkasy on May 21st.

The second "National Unity Roundtable" discussed issues related to resolving the situation in southeastern Ukraine and the prospects for constitutional reform. Attendees included two former Ukrainian presidents, the acting Prime Minister, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, the acting Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Civil Services, the acting Minister of Internal Affairs, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, members of parliament, representatives of local government agencies, and religious and social organizations. The conference took place against the backdrop of the interim government in Kyiv continuing its military campaign in eastern Ukraine.

According to VNA