On 18 July 2017, the head of the self-proclaimed state Donetsk People's Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, announced its intention to form a federation with the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) called "Little Russia" ("Malorossiya"). Its goal was to absorb "former Ukraine," which he declared a "failed state." A constitution was published and a flag designed for the new state. The same day, the press service of the LPR released a statement from LPR leader Igor Plotnitsky, stating that the LPR was "not taking part in the project." Russian authorities publicly rejected the proposal.