U.S. at OSCE: Ukraine must hold elections in Donbas in line with domestic and international law

Ukraine must regain control of its international border, and Ukrainian officials must be able to administer elections in Donbas in line with domestic and international law.
Deputy Chief of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE Harry Kamian said this at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on October 10, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

“We have heard much talk of the need for “free and fair” elections in the Donbas. This will, of course, require the establishment of a secure environment on the ground for candidates, voters, and election workers and observers. The onus is on Russia to create such conditions. Russia must withdraw its forces and end all support for illegal formations operating in Ukrainian territory. Ukraine must regain control of its international border, and Ukrainian officials must be able to administer elections in line with domestic and international law," he said.

At the same time, the American diplomat asked whether “Moscow is finally willing to respect its commitments under the Minsk agreements?"

"Instead of misrepresenting the facts— as we saw firsthand during last week’s Permanent Council meeting — Russia should fulfill its Minsk commitments and take the necessary steps to resolve the conflict, such as holding to the ceasefire," Kamian said.

On October 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine had agreed to the text of the "Steinmeier formula." According to him, the document envisages the approval in Ukraine of a temporary law on a special status for Donbas, which will come into force if the OSCE recognizes local elections in occupied territories of Donbas, held under Ukrainian law, as democratic.