PARIS - French President Francois Hollande has welcomed the decision of pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine to delay holding local elections until 2016, which he described as a step towards lasting peace.
“It will allow for the continuation of the implementation of the Minsk agreements which are the only solution to a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict,” Hollande said.
Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have been the key mediators between Ukraine and Russia over the conflict in Donbas and last week they urged for local elections in eastern Ukraine to be delayed to ensure that they meet international standards.
Moscow-backed militants had insisted on carrying out the elections in October and November on their own terms and on different dates to the rest of the country.
