The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in the conversation with Ambassador of Germany Ernst Reichel stressed the inadmissibility of holding elections in the occupied territories of Donbas before the withdrawal of Russian troops.

"On February 7 the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned German Ambassador Ernst Reichel to provide an explanation of his statements on the modalities of holding the elections in the territories of Donbas uncontrolled by Kyiv," the Foreign Ministry's press service told Interfax following the meeting.

A message says that a clear and consistent position of Ukraine was confirmed: such elections should be held only after the withdrawal of units of the Russian armed forces from Ukraine, as well as only upon providing such security prerequisites, which would allow holding free and democratic elections in Donbas in compliance with the OSCE standards and Ukrainian legislation.

"At the same time Ukraine appreciates the efforts of the official Berlin, including the Normandy format aimed at the return of peace to Donbas and termination of the Russian aggression against Ukraine," the message of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says.

As reported, Reichel was summoned to the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine to provide explanations regarding his statements about the possibility of holding elections in the territories of Donbas uncontrolled by Kyiv before the withdrawal of Russian troops.