Ukraine reaches key deal with pro-Russian separatists
(Baonghean.vn) - Ukraine has signed an agreement with separatists that allows local elections to be held in the separatist-controlled territories in eastern Ukraine. This could pave the way for future peace talks.
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| President Zelensky meets with Ukrainian soldiers in the eastern region. Photo: DW |
According to DW, the Ukrainian government signed an agreement on October 1 with pro-Russian separatists, Russia and European monitors, allowing a local election to take place in areas under separatist control in eastern Ukraine.
The agreement was signed after the parties met in the Belarusian capital Minsk, and is seen as a major step by the new government in Ukraine under President Volodymyr Zelensky towards resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Kiev and separatists.
In preparation for the election, the Ukrainian government and separatist leaders said they would withdraw troops from two locations in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions next week.
No election “under gunfire”
Ukrainian President Zelensky told reporters in Kiev that Ukraine had agreed to hold local elections only if it regained control of its border with Russia. The leader faced criticism that Ukraine was giving in to Moscow and supporting a policy of appeasement toward Russia.
“There will be no elections under gunfire. There will be no elections while the military is still there,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian government and separatists agreed that the elections would be valid if European observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) determined that they were held freely and fairly.
The separatists are seeking special status allowing self-rule in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, where large areas have been under rebel control since April 2014.
If the OSCE declares the elections valid, Moscow-backed separatists say they expect to be granted special long-term status.
Peace summit expected
The election agreement is seen as paving the way for a summit between Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of France and Germany. Russia has refused to take part in such a meeting unless Ukraine agrees to hold local elections in the Donbass region.
After the agreement was signed, Zelensky said that nothing should stand in the way of the summit, and that a date would be announced soon. On October 1, French President Emmanuel Macron said he expected the summit to take place in the coming weeks.
