You're reading: Yatsenyuk says all conditions should be created for free and transparent elections in Donbas

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says that the implementation of the Minsk agreements is needed for free and transparent elections in Donbas in eastern Ukraine.

“The Minsk agreements should be implemented. As of today, this is the only roadmap to peacefully resolve the conflict,” he said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on April 2.

According to him, the Ukrainian authorities have clearly stated that free and transparent elections should be held in Donbas. “Therefore, the Minsk [agreements] should be fulfilled. All the conditions should be created for holding free and transparent elections, which will be recognized by the international community and will be accepted by Ukraine,” he said.

“We’re for holding the elections, but this requires the fulfillment of the Minsk [agreements], the announcement of the full ceasefire, the withdrawal of troops – Russian mercenaries should be removed from territory and a free electoral process should be guaranteed,” Yatsenyuk said.

Yatseniuk wrote on Facebook later that the Donbas elections “should be held under Ukrainian laws and in keeping with OSCE and ODIHR standards. Legitimate authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions should be lawfully elected during these elections.”

“And if the elections are held at gunpoint of Kalashnikov [assault rifles] and with Russian terrorists at the polling stations, this is the way to the legitimizing of terrorists. We won’t agree to that,” he wrote.

According to him, the key task is to ensure a real ceasefire. “Now everything depends on Russia: either Russia is ready for peace and stability in Europe, or it is not ready for this,” he added.

Yatseniuk also noted that he had had a very informative conversation with Merkel in Berlin. “We really appreciate the Chancellor’s personal position, namely during the formation of a bailout package for Ukraine and during the Minsk [peace] process.”