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Poroshenko: Donbass elections possible in case of reinforced OSCE mission deployment

The OSCE police mission would have to be heavily armed to ensure security before, during and after the elections

Petro Poroshenko inspecting troops in east Ukraine, March 28, 2016 Nikolay Lazarenko/Ukrainian presidential press service/TASS

Petro Poroshenko inspecting troops in east Ukraine, March 28, 2016

© Nikolay Lazarenko/Ukrainian presidential press service/TASS

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Hollande and Merkel remind Poroshenko of need to hold elections in Donbass

WASHINGTON, March 31. /TASS/. To hold elections in Ukraine’s south-eastern Donbass region, it is necessary to deploy there a reinforced mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Wednesday in Washington, DC where he arrived to attend a Nuclear Security Summit held under the US auspices.

According to the Ukrainian leader, "The elections may become possible if the international community agrees on the deployment of a reinforced, heavily armed OSCE police mission in Donbass in order to ensure security before, during and after the elections."

He also pledged that "Ukraine remains committed to" the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

US President Barack Obama decided not to hold a meeting with him on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit. Only US Vice President Joseph Biden will hold talks with Poroshenko. According to the White House, Biden and Poroshenko will meet later on Thursday.

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Ukraine crisis OSCE Pyotr Poroshenko

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