Meanwhile, Russia has affirmed its recognition of the results of the elections to be held in eastern Ukraine on November 2nd. However, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stated that these elections pose a challenge to Kyiv's peace process.

The war in eastern Ukraine between Kiev's government forces and pro-Russian separatists since mid-April has claimed the lives of more than 3,700 people and forced thousands more to flee to other parts of Ukraine or to Russia.

The Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared their independence from Kyiv following the coup in February.

Although eastern Ukraine is currently observing a ceasefire agreement since September 5th, gunfire is still being reported in the area.

According to the BBC, speaking at a press conference in Ottawa, Canada, Secretary of State Kerry said it was clear that the Ukrainian people had chosen the path of democracy when they went to the polls in the parliamentary elections on October 26.

Regarding the separatist movement's plan to hold elections on November 2nd in eastern Ukraine, Kerry stated: "This action clearly violates the commitments agreed upon by both Russia and the separatist forces during the Minsk meetings."

"The United States and the international community will not recognize the so-called separatist elections unless they are held within the framework of the special status law passed by the Ukrainian parliament and signed by President Poroshenko," the US Secretary of State added.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary elections held on October 26 in Kyiv did not take place in the eastern region currently under separatist control, nor in the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by the Russian Federation in March.

Results released by the Ukrainian Election Commission show that with 93% of the votes counted, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk's People's Front party currently holds 22.21% of the vote, while President Poroshenko's party has 21.8%. These two pro-Western parties will soon form a governing coalition.

The international airport in Donetsk was heavily damaged following attacks between Kiev government forces and eastern separatists.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the elections in Donetsk and Luhansk "will be extremely important to legitimize the governing apparatus there." "We hope the elections will be held as planned, and of course, we recognize the results of these elections," Lavrov stated.

In 2008, Moscow supported pro-Russian separatists in Georgia and later recognized the region's independence.

Under the ceasefire agreement, the Kiev authorities pledged not to prosecute leaders in eastern Ukraine who had previously been labeled "terrorists".

The agreement also called for "illegally operating fighters" to withdraw from Ukrainian territory, but it is unclear how many Russian "volunteer" soldiers remain in Ukraine to support the separatists.

While Moscow insists that the Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine are "free volunteers," the Kiev government and the West claim that Russia had previously sent professional military units to eastern Ukraine.

This content was created by referencing the British news agency BBC. BBC was founded in 1922 and provides news programs on TV, radio, and the internet.

According to Infonet