Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has stressed that holding elections in areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which are outside Kyiv control, is unacceptable until the withdrawal of the occupation troops and the return of control over the state border of Ukraine.
“Holding the elections in Donbas without the withdrawal of the occupation troops and weapons, and return of control over the border to Ukraine is absolutely unacceptable,” he said during a meeting with French Ambassador to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont on Oct. 19 speaking about his vision of the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
Dumont said Kyiv’s arguments were clear and well-reasoned. “She pointed to Paris’ consistent position in the approaches to guarantee the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The ambassador spoke about the French government’s intentions to continue to seek ways for successful implementation of the Minsk process,” the report says.
The parties also discussed the strengthening of cooperation between law enforcement agencies of European countries in the context of the current global challenges and threats. Avakov expressed his hopes for more active involvement of French counterparts in the process of forming the National Police, the National Guard under the State Service for Emergency Situations of Ukraine.
