Pro-Moscow insurgents in eastern Ukraine declared independence Monday and sought to join Russia, undermining upcoming presidential elections, strengthening the Kremlin's hand and putting pressure on Kiev to hold talks with the separatists following a referendum on self-rule.
Russia signaled it has no intention of subsuming eastern Ukraine the way it annexed Crimea in March. Instead, Moscow is pushing to include eastern regions in negotiations on Ukraine's future — suggesting that Russia prefers a political rather than a military solution to its worst standoff with the West since the Cold War. More pics after cut...

Pro-Russian people applaud insurgent leader Denis Pushilin after his speech at barricades in front of a regional administration building that was seized by pro-Russian activists in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Monday, May 12, 2014. The referendum balloting Sunday in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which together have 6.5 million people, was condemned as a sham and a violation of international law by Kiev’s interim government and other western powers. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Insurgent leader Denis Pushilin speaks during a news conference in Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, May 12, 2014. The referendum balloting Sunday in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which together have 6.5 million people, was condemned as a sham and a violation of international law by Kiev’s interim government and other western powers. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
A man cries during the funeral of Alexey Vorobyov, a civilian killed by Ukraine National Guard during an operation against pro Russian activist last Friday in Mariupol, Ukraine, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pro-Russia insurgents in eastern Ukraine declared independence Monday, a day after holding a hastily arranged referendum vote on separatism that Ukraine’s government and its western allies said violated international law.(AP Photo/Manu Brabo)
Pro-Russian gunmen and activists react while listening to a speaker as they declare independence for the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine on Monday, May 12, 2014. Pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine declared independence Monday for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions following their contentious referendum ballot. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Swiss President and OSCE chairperson in office Didier Burkhalter gestures as he talks with the media, after he met with EU foreign ministers, at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, May 12, 2014. European Union foreign ministers are considering adding more people to its Ukraine sanctions list but are not expected to go beyond visa bans and asset freezes before the May 25 elections in the east European nation. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
In this photo taken on Sunday, May 11, 2014, flowers and Orthodox icons are seen outside a police station where a few people were killed during fighting between government forces and insurgents on Friday, May 9 in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine. The insurgents in the east have seized government buildings and clashed with government troops and police over the past month. More than 30 people have been reported killed since Ukrainian forces began trying to retake some eastern cities from the insurgents. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)
In this photo taken on Sunday, May 11, 2014, people mourn outside a police station where a few people were killed during fighting between government forces and insurgents on Friday, May 9 in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine. The insurgents in the east have seized government buildings and clashed with government troops and police over the past month. More than 30 people have been reported killed since Ukrainian forces began trying to retake some eastern cities from the insurgents. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)
People watch fireworks celebrating the declaration of independence for Donetsk region at barricades in front of a regional administration building that was recently seized by pro-Russian activists in Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, May 12, 2014, with a Russian national flag is in the background. Pro-Moscow insurgents in eastern Ukraine declared independence Monday, putting pressure on Kiev to hold talks with the separatists. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Swiss President and OSCE chairperson in office Didier Burkhalter gestures as he talks with the media, after he met with EU foreign ministers, at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, May 12, 2014. European Union foreign ministers are considering adding more people to its Ukraine sanctions list but are not expected to go beyond visa bans and asset freezes before the May 25 elections in the east European nation. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
Co-chairman of the Presidium of the People's Republic of Donetsk Boris Litvinov, left, Insurgent leader head of the elections commission of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin, and vote-counter Roman Lyagin, right, show documents with the results of Sunday's referendum to journalists at a news conference in Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, May 12, 2014. The referendum balloting Sunday in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which together have 6.5 million people, was condemned as a sham and a violation of international law by Kiev’s interim government and other western powers. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Pro-Russian protesters listen to a guitar player whilst celebrating their declaring independence for the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine Monday, May 12, 2014. Pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine declared independence Monday for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions following their contentious referendum ballot. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A gunman stands guard as pro-Russian protesters listen to a speaker as they declare independence for the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine on Monday, May 12, 2014. The words on the nameplate read "Luhansk". Pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine declared independence Monday for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions following their contentious referendum ballot. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Pro-Russian protesters, reflected in a puddle, applaud a speaker as they declare independence for the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine on Monday, May 12, 2014. Pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine declared independence Monday for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions following their contentious referendum ballot. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A Ukrainian policeman leans on sand bags placed against the doors of one the entrances to the regional administration building in Odessa, Ukraine, Monday, May 12, 2014. The Kremlin made it clear Monday that Moscow has no intention of immediately annexing two regions in eastern Ukraine after a weekend referendum there showed most voters allegedly backing sovereignty. Ukraine's central government and the West strongly criticized Sunday's hastily arranged, unofficial ballot in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Pro-Russian armed men stand at the city hall in the eastern Ukraine city of Luhansk on Monday, May 12, 2014. The pro-Russian insurgents who organized Sunday’s vote claimed 89 percent of those who cast ballots Sunday in the Donetsk region and about 96 percent of those who turned out in the neighboring Luhansk region voted for sovereignty. It remained unclear whether the vote could lead to their secession, but Vasily Nikitin, a spokesman for the insurgents in Luhansk said that the region will not vote in Ukraine’s presidential election set for May 25. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
People watch fireworks celebrating the declaration of independence for Donetsk region at barricades in front of a regional administration building that was recently seized by pro-Russian activists in Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, May 12, 2014, with a Russian national flag in the background. Pro-Moscow insurgents in eastern Ukraine declared independence Monday, putting pressure on Kiev to hold talks with the separatists. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
A pro-Russian man holds an Orthodox cross as a crowd are celebrating declaring independence for Donetsk region at barricades in front of a regional administration building that was seized by pro-Russian activists in Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pro-Moscow insurgents in eastern Ukraine declared independence Monday and put pressure on Kiev to hold talks with the separatists. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
A pro-Russian man holds an Orthodox cross as a crowd are celebrating declaring independence for Donetsk region at barricades in front of a regional administration building that was seized by pro-Russian activists in Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, May 12, 2014. Pro-Moscow insurgents in eastern Ukraine declared independence Monday and put pressure on Kiev to hold talks with the separatists. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)