Ukraine refusing legitimization of current LPR, DPR leaders
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said that Ukraine will not agree to the legitimization of the current leaders of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian troops and mercenaries should leave Donbas.
"I want to state the impossibility of legitimizing those who have gained the power with the help of Russian aggression, Russian troops," the Ukrainian foreign minister said at a joint news conference with Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende in Kyiv on Wednesday.
According to Klimkin, situation in Donbas can be stabilized through the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Ukraine is committed to these documents, and the Ukrainian parliament adopted the law on special procedure of self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
But this law provides opportunities for residents of Donbas to take over the process of returning to normal life and not for legitimizing those who came with the help of Russian troops and mercenaries, the minister said.
According to him, de-escalation needs to be achieved in Donbas first, as well the withdrawal of Russian troops and weapons, and then the political settlement may start, including the holding of a free and fair local elections.