Russian, Ukraine, EU leaders discussed local elections dispute
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 10 September 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian, Ukraine, EU leaders discussed local elections dispute, 10 September 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/561d043321.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 10, 2015
The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France discussed the contentious issue of holding local elections in separatist eastern Ukraine in a 90-minute telephone conversation September 9, the Kremlin said.
Under the Minsk peace agreement, the separatist regions must conduct local elections by the end of the year "in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and the law of Ukraine."
The Russian-backed rebels, however, want to hold local elections on their own terms, which include barring all pro-Ukrainian candidates and holding the polls on days that do not correspond to local elections planned in the rest of Ukraine on October 25.
Ukrainian leaders have warned that any attempt to hold "unlawful" elections in rebel-run areas would violate the February peace deal – a point on which German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande agreed, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's office said.
With foreign ministers from the four countries due to meet in Berlin on September 12, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said "the immediate task is to reach an agreement on the date and conditions of local elections in Donbass."
Based on reporting by AFP, TASS, and Interfax
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
