NSDC Secretary Danilov outlines conditions for local elections in Donbas

Elections in the temporarily uncontrolled parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are possible only in the liberated territories, under Ukrainian legislation and in the presence of Ukrainian and foreign observers.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said this in comments to journalists, the NSDC’s press service reported on Thursday.

During the coordination meeting at the Office of the President of Ukraine on December 3, five scenarios for the reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas were approved. In particular, based on the results of the meeting, the priorities were identified for Ukraine to defend during the negotiations with the Normandy Four leaders, namely: the release of prisoners in the "all for all" format, the withdrawal of illegal armed formations from the occupied territories, the possibility of holding local elections in Donbas under Ukrainian law and the return of control over the Russian-Ukrainian border to Ukraine.

"There is no scenario of capitulation, which some political leaders claim. This is out of the question," the NSDC secretary stressed.

He expressed hope that "in the end, our partners will move from words to action, and we will resolve at least four key issues".

"First of all, we will exchange prisoners in the "all for all" format, we will cease fire at all sections of the demarcation line, and we will also find a way to resolve the issue of elections," Danilov said, emphasizing that elections can only be held under Ukrainian law, and after Ukraine regains control over the border with Russia.

The NSDC Secretary reiterated that Ukraine had fulfilled all conditions for holding the Normandy Four summit. "In particular, the disengagement of troops in three areas is an unprecedented step on our part," he said.

According to Danilov, a closed meeting of the NSDC of Ukraine under the chairmanship of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will take place in the nearest days before his visit to Paris.

A Normandy Four summit is to take place in Paris on December 9. The meeting will be attended by the leaders of four countries: Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany. It will be the first meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.

A key issue on the agenda is resolving the conflict in Donbas.

The last such meeting at the level of the leaders of the states took place in Berlin on October 19, 2016. Its participants acknowledged that there was no breakthrough in the settlement of the conflict in Donbas.

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