More than seven million Ukrainians in the eastern regions of the country are invited to vote on Sunday in two identical referendums organized by the pro-Russian separatists in the provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk. Through these referenda, citizens are asked to decide the fate of their regions, whether they want them to become independent or to remain a part of Ukraine.

The hastily printed ballot papers include the same, simple question for both provinces: “Do you support the act of state self-rule of the Donetsk People’s Republic/Luhansk People’s Republic?” Although there cannot be any doubt about the outcome of the referenda, what remains to be seen is the participation rates of citizens. The number of voters will reveal the extent of the citizens’ trust in the leaders of the pro – Russian separatists, who ignored President Putin’s plea to postpone the referendum.

The outcome of the referenda is of great historical significance and it has become the focus of attention of the 45 million residents of Ukraine and of the major Western powers.

United States reiterated that it will not recognize the outcome of the referendum being held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, which could lead to the secession of that region.

The referendums are “illegal under Ukrainian law and are an attempt to create further division and disorder,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a statement on Saturday and went on to add that, “if these referenda go forward, they will violate international law and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The United States will not recognize the results of these illegal referenda.”