Firstly, Ukraine has to gain control over the border to hold local elections in occupied Donbas in October 2020 as Voice of America reported citing Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent.
“Mainly, before talking about terms for holding of the local elections, it is necessary to guarantee security. Ukraine should gain control over its international border. I believe President Zelensky and his team have clearly determined their position. They clearly expressed their intentions to reach the peaceful solution of the conflict. It depends on whether Putin and his team want to stop the war and stop to kill the citizens of other countries and territories of this country,” the official said.
He underlined that the main tool for the end of the war is Minsk Agreements and the fulfillment of commitments taken by all sides.
“It is the war unleashed by Russia and Russia may stop it,” Kent is sure.
He praised the prisoners’ swaps, which took place recently: “A lot should be done to release other prisoners. Besides, there is a lot work concerning the disengagement of the forces”.
As we reported, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov states that he believes in the possibility holding of the local elections in occupied Donbas this autumn only for 50%.