By Kasim Ileri
WASHINGTON
The U.S. will not recognize elections to be held in pro-Russian separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine, an official said Friday.
"We deplore the intent of separatists in parts of eastern Ukraine to hold illegitimate so-called local ‘elections’ on Sunday, Nov. 2," said National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan in a statement.
"If held, these ‘elections’ would contravene Ukraine’s constitution and laws and the Sept. 5 Minsk Protocol."
The Minsk agreement was signed after extensive talks in Minsk, Belarus, between Russia, Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or OSCE.
The agreement, which followed previous attempts to stop fighting in the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, implemented an immediate cease-fire, but failed to stop fighting in Donbass.
Although separatists have declared the independence of the Donetsk Republic in eastern Ukraine, the U.S. and Western powers have not recognized it.
Echoing President Barack Obama, Meehan said that the U.S. would not recognize elections that does not comport with Ukrainian law and is not held with the express consent and under the authority of the Ukrainian government.
"The only legitimate local election in eastern Ukraine will be held on Dec. 7, as prescribed by the Special Status Law signed by President (Petro) Poroshenko for parts of Donetsk and Luhansk," she said.
Meehan also urged Russia, as a signatory of the Minsk Protocol, to join the secretary general of the United Nations, along with the European Union, and the Council of Europe in condemning the vote.
The U.S. has placed several economic and political sanctions on Russia for escalating the tension in Ukraine by arming the separatists.
"We also caution Russia against using any such illegitimate vote as a pretext to insert additional troops and military equipment into Ukraine, particularly in light of recent indications that the Russian military is moving forces back to the border along separatist controlled areas of eastern Ukraine."
Russia annexed Crimea in March following a referendum vote held in the peninsula that was not recognized by Ukraine nor the West.
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