BRUSSELS – The European Union says that so-called “elections” scheduled for Nov. 11 in Russian-controlled parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts are ” contrary to the spirit and letter of the Minsk agreements,” which require elections to be done under Ukrainian law after Russia withdraws from the country and returns border control to Kyiv.
Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, made this statement:
“The European Union fully supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Implementation of the Minsk agreements by all sides is key to reaching a lasting peaceful solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. In this context, the announcement that so-called ‘elections’ will be held in the so-called ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’ and ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ on 11 November 2018 runs contrary to the spirit and letter of the Minsk agreements, which have specific provisions regarding the organisation of local elections in that region.”
Kocijancic underlined that all steps that would obstruct the advancement of the implementation of the Minsk agreements must be avoided. “We expect Russia in particular to make full use of its influence on the separatists in this regard.”
