Ukraine's Conditions for Elections in Donbas

The Ukrainian delegation proposed to hold an additional meeting to achieve progress on the issue of the separation of forces and assets. The Ukrainian delegation at the talks in the Tripartite Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, OSCE) stated that the holding of elections in the occupied territories of Donbas is possible only within the period established by law after a comprehensive de-escalation. This was announced on Wednesday, June 10 by the press service of the Presidential Office. “The Ukrainian side, within the framework of the working group on political issues, insists on the foreign military units and equipment withdrawal, illegal armed groups disarmament and restoration of control by the Ukrainian government over the state border in the conflict zone,” the statement said. Also, within the framework of the working group on security issues, the Ukrainian side again focused on the need to ensure full and unhindered access for the OSCE special monitoring mission to the entire temporarily uncontrolled territory. In addition, the Ukrainian side confirmed its readiness to open two new checkpoints for the humanitarian mission. It is noted that for the first time, as part of the Ukrainian delegation, representatives of certain regions of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine took an active part in the work of the political group and the TCG itself. They were called for consultations provided for by the Minsk agreements. Earlier, Kuleba said that Ukraine is ready "for extensive compromises" in the issues of Donbas and Crimea only under the condition of restoring sovereignty and control over the border.