Putin urges postponing eastern Ukraine referendum

Associated Press

7 May 2014 at 9:47 am

Pro-Russian gunmen carry the coffin of a person killed during clashes last week between Ukrainian and pre-Russian forces, during a commemoration service in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The U.S. and European nations have increased diplomatic efforts ahead of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election, as a pro-Russian insurgency continues to rock the country's eastern regions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People shout slogans during a commemoration service of four people killed during clashes last week between Ukrainian and pre-Russian forces, in the centre of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The U.S. and European nations have increased diplomatic efforts ahead of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election, as a pro-Russian insurgency continues to rock the country's eastern regions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Relatives mourn in front of the casket of a person killed during clashes between Ukrainian and pro-Russian forces last week, during a commemoration service in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The U.S. and European nations have increased diplomatic efforts ahead of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election, as a pro-Russian insurgency continues to rock the country's eastern regions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Pro-Russian gunmen carry the coffin of a person killed during last week's operation, during a commemorative service in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The U.S. and European nations have increased diplomatic efforts ahead of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election, as a pro-Russian insurgency continues to rock the country's eastern regions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Ukrainian presidential candidate and businessman Petro Poroshenko briefs the media after a meeting with Germany's Christian Union's faction law makers in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The Ukrainian government is planing a presidential election on May 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Men carry the coffin of a person killed during last week's unrest, during a commemorative service in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The U.S. and European nations have increased diplomatic efforts ahead of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election, as a pro-Russian insurgency continues to rock the country's eastern regions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Relatives mourn in front of the coffins of four people killed in last week's operation, during a commemorative service in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The U.S. and European nations have increased diplomatic efforts ahead of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election, as a pro-Russian insurgency continues to rock the country's eastern regions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Relatives mourn in front of coffins of four people killed during clashes last week between Ukrainian and pre-Russian forces, during a commemoration service in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The U.S. and European nations have increased diplomatic efforts ahead of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election, as a pro-Russian insurgency continues to rock the country's eastern regions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

An Orthodox priest attends a religious ceremony in front of the coffins of four people killed during last week's operation, in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The U.S. and European nations have increased diplomatic efforts ahead of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election, as a pro-Russian insurgency continues to rock the country's eastern regions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Relatives mourn in front of the casket of a person killed during last week's operation, during a commemorative service in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The U.S. and European nations have increased diplomatic efforts ahead of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election, as a pro-Russian insurgency continues to rock the country's eastern regions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

An Orthodox priest sprinkles water during a religious ceremony in front of the coffins of four people killed during last week's operation, in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The U.S. and European nations have increased diplomatic efforts ahead of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election, as a pro-Russian insurgency continues to rock the country's eastern regions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Pro-Russian gunmen carry the coffin of a person killed during clashes last week between Ukrainian and pre-Russian forces, during a commemoration service in the center of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, May 7, 2014. The U.S. and European nations have increased diplomatic efforts ahead of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election, as a pro-Russian insurgency continues to rock the country's eastern regions. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin says a planned May 11 referendum on autonomy in southeast Ukraine should be postponed.

In a Wednesday meeting with Swiss president Didier Burkhalter, Putin also called on Ukraine's military to halt all operations against pro-Russia activists who have seized government buildings and police stations across at least a dozen towns in eastern Ukraine.

Putin also said the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine — slated for May 25 — are a move "in the right direction," but repeated that constitutional reforms would have to precede any nationwide vote in Ukraine.

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