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U.K. condemns ‘illegal’ vote in Donbas
Journal Staff Report

KYIV, Nov 12 - The U.K. on Monday condemned as ‘illegitimate’ elections in Moscow-backed separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine, and urged Russia to withdraw its troops and equipment from the region.

The statement from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) underscores increasing pressure on Russia to stop violating Minsk peace agreements for ending the military conflict in Ukraine.

“The so-called ‘elections’ which Russian-backed separatists held in the Donbas, Ukraine on 11 November: they are illegitimate and in violation of the Minsk Agreements,” the FCO said in the statement. “They undermine efforts to achieve peace in the region, and they are illegal under Ukrainian law.”

The self-proclaimed authorities in Donbas announced on Sunday that Denis Pushilin was elected the leader of Donetsk and Leonid Pasechnik as the leader of Luhansk.

Voters also cast ballots for local legislatures in the regions, where Moscow-backed separatists and Russian troops have fought Ukrainian forces since 2014 in a conflict that has killed more than 10,000 people.

President Petro Poroshenko discussed the elections with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron during ceremonies in Paris on Sunday commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Merkel and Macron, in a statement after the meeting, said that holding "so-called" elections undermines Ukraine's territorial integrity, and urged all sides to respect the cease-fire and release political prisoners.

But the U.K. also underscored Russia’s critical role in the military conflict, increasing the pressure on Moscow to comply with the peace agreements.

“These [elections] took place against the background of Russia’s continued violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the FCO said. “Russia is providing arms to the separatists in the Donbas, with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) reporting a flow of Russian military convoys crossing in and out of eastern Ukraine.”

“We call on Russia to fully implement its commitments under the Minsk Agreements, to stop providing financial and military support to the separatists, and to withdraw its armed forces and military equipment from Ukrainian territory,” the FCO said.

The U.K. also strongly urged the Russian-backed separatists to stop obstructing OSCE monitors, and to grant safe and unhindered access so essential humanitarian assistance can be delivered to the 1.8 million people in need within non-government controlled areas.

“The UK again reiterates our commitment to diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine, so that legitimate and credible elections can be held in line with the Minsk Agreements and that this conflict be brought to an end.” (tl/ez)




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