German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has welcomed the conduct of local elections in rebel-controlled areas on Donbas should be regulated by a separate law, which needs to be quickly developed.

"It is good that the local elections on 25 October in Ukraine could be held without any major incidents despite the difficult environment," reads a statement by Steinmeier posted on the website of the German Foreign Ministry.

He recalled that in a preliminary statement, the OSCE/ODIHR mission found that the voting and counting processes were transparent and largely well organized. Individual irregularities, such as the cancellation of the elections in Mariupol and Krasnoarmiysk, have to be investigated and the elections there have to be held soon.

"In order to further implement the Minsk agreements, it is important that elections can also take place in the foreseeable future and in line with recognized rules in the areas under the control of the separatists. To this end, an electoral law in keeping with the rules of the Minsk agreements must now be quickly agreed upon and initiated," Steinmeier said.