The Ukraine government in Kiev began European-backed talks Wednesday to facilitate peace, but it did not invite pro-Russia separatists to participate in the talks.

Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said authorities were "ready for a dialogue," but said they would not talk to the pro-Russia rebels who seized buildings and have declared autonomy from Ukraine.

"Let's have a dialogue, let's discuss specific proposals," Turchynov said, "but those armed people who are trying to wage a war on their own country, those who are with arms in their hands trying to dictate their will, or rather the will of another country, we will use legal procedures against them and they will face justice."

The pro-Russia separatists in the East brushed off the negotiations, signaling that peace may not be imminent, The Associated Press reports.

"We haven't received any offers to join a round table and dialogue," said Denis Pushilin, an insurgent leader in Donetsk, a city that voted for independence from Ukraine in last week's referendum. "If the authorities in Kiev want a dialogue, they must come here. If we go to Kiev, they will arrest us."

Pushilin said that "talks with Kiev authorities could only be about one thing: the recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic."

In Kiev, Turchynov held a round of talks with lawmakers, spiritual leaders and political figures as part of a plan for peace that was initiated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The security group includes the United States and Russia. Russia has backed the OSCE plan along with the United States.

Ukraine has a deeply polarized society; those in the West want closer ties with the European Union, and those in the East desire a closer connection to Russia, including the possible annexation of the regions.

The government will hold discussions across the country "in as many regions as possible," said Acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

Oleksandr Efremov, who leads the Party of Regions in the Ukrainian parliament, said he hopes the discussions will eventually be held in the East "where things are perceived in a different way."

Efremov called on the Ukraine government to pull its troops out of the Donetsk region, and told government officials that they need to understand that citizens do not trust the new government following Prime Minister Yanukovych's ousting in February.

Nevertheless, the Ukrainian government said it will not stop trying to take back control of the Eastern cities that declared autonomy Monday.

The governor of Donetsk, Serhiy Taruta, said he wants the government to stop calling pro-Russia separatists "terrorists," and that troops should withdraw from the city.

The new negotiations are aimed at stopping the violence between the government forces and pro-Russia rebels, and to quell fighting before Ukraine's presidential election, which takes place May 25. The plan is to get both sides to stop the violence and offer amnesty to those involved in the fighting. The government also plans on supporting the decentralization of power.

E.U. officials praised the talks, but the eastern insurgents are not as happy with the developments.

Both Ukraine and the West has accused Russia of inciting violence in east Ukraine.

Dozens have died in fighting in the East. The Defense Ministry said Tuesday that six soldiers were killed, and nine were wounded in fighting with pro-Russia rebels near the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk.

The Defense Ministry accuses Russia of aiding the insurgents, but Russia has denied involvement.

On Wednesday in Donetsk, about 15 men went to a military base to persuade the soldiers to promise allegiance to the Donetsk People's Republic. The men blocked the gate of the base, but they were eventually persuaded to leave.

Officials in Moscow said Ukraine's refusal to speak with their enemies in the East will invalidate Ukraine's upcoming presidential vote.