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Developments in eastern Ukraine

EU not to recognize elections in Donetsk, Lugansk republics - EU foreign policy chief

"The vote is illegal and illegitimate, and the European Union will not recognize it," Federica Mogherini said

© AP Photo/Virginia Mayo

BRUSSELS, November 3. /TASS/. The European Union considers Sunday’s elections in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics in eastern Ukraine as illegitimate and will not recognize their results, the EU’s new foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has said.

"I consider today's 'presidential and parliamentary elections' in Donetsk and Lugansk 'People's Republics' a new obstacle on the path towards peace in Ukraine,” Mogherini said.

"The vote is illegal and illegitimate, and the European Union will not recognize it," Mogherini said in a statement.

Local elections should be held in accordance with the Ukrainian law as envisaged by the agreements signed in the Belarusian capital Minsk, she said, adding: "I call on all sides to work towards such elections."

The current prime minister Alexander Zakharchenko and the movement he leads, the Donetsk Republic, are winning the elections in the DPR. In the neighboring LPR, the incumbent leader Igor Plotnitsky and the public movement, Peace to

Lugansk Region (Mir Luganshchine), which he leads, are winning the polls.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday Moscow respects the will expression of the citizens of southeastern Ukraine. Russia considers the elections as a positive step towards settling the crisis in the country.

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Eastern Ukraine

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