Kyiv cannot hold contacts directly with current representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics (DPR and LPR), on which Russia insists, and therefore calls for holding local elections in the region in keeping with OSCE criteria, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said.

"We cannot hold direct dialogue with the people calling themselves DPR-LPR representatives," Klimkin said on Channel 5.

He reiterated that local elections in Donbas must comply with OSCE criteria.

Russia has insisted at each negotiations that Kyiv should negotiate directly with the current DPR and LPR leaders, even though Russia itself has not recognized the results of the "fake" elections of November 2, 2014 Klimkin said.

Kyiv insists on facilitating the organization of real elections, Klimkin said. "Our position is simple: we want to bring peace, serenity, law and order to Donetsk and Luhansk regions. But it is the people living in these regions who should designate their representatives. And therefore we need real elections, in line with OSCE criteria," Klimkin said.

In particular, such elections must be held in line with Ukrainian law and in keeping with OSCE criteria, he said.

"For instance, I am asking: Can residents of Donetsk and Luhansk switch on their TV sets and watch this program on Channel 5? Can representatives of our parties run in next elections? These are basic OSCE criteria, and we must make sure that the next elections are recognized by the entire international community," Klimkin said.

The minister also insisted on making sure that international monitors have access to these elections and to polling stations, that any intimidation is ruled out, and that there are no illegal armed groups in the said territories.

He stressed that war criminals cannot run in such elections. "Even Russia admits that Motorola [the nickname of a Donbas militant leader] is just a gangster," he said.

"In arguing about the need for a civilian-military mission that would help stabilize the situation, I cited this example: Can you imagine, even theoretically, that Motorola could take part in the establishment of the people's police? The answer was very simple: Of course not. Can we apply amnesty to those who shot down the Malaysian Boeing? Can we apply amnesty to those who organized the shelling of Mariupol?" Klimkin said.