A U.S. Congress delegation has seen that residents in Ukraine's eastern regions support the engagement of monitoring groups at the presidential election in the country on May 25, U.S. Representative Ed Royce, who is chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives, has said. The May 25 election is very important as this is the opportunity for all Ukrainians to take part in establishing new authorities, Royce said at a press conference in Kyiv on April 22 following a visit to Ukraine's east.
During visits to east Ukrainian cities and towns, U.S. delegates met with representatives of civil society who expect huge change in the country.
While talking to the Russian-speaking population we heard that they’re enthusiastic about the future election, he said.
Ukrainians urge the West to send more groups to monitor the presidential election to confirm it’s fair and transparent, he added.
Royce also says that among the protesters in Ukraine’s east are armed specialists from Russia whose goal is to destabilize the situation in Ukraine.
It looks like the Russian special services have been involved in what’s going on in the east in order to create obstacles for Ukraine, he said.
He also says that the Geneva April 17 agreements foresee the withdrawal of Russian troops, however Russia, on the contrary, hinders the peaceful process.
Yet, Russia’s official position is that there are no Russian troops on Ukraine’s territory.
