United States congratulates Ukraine on extending law on special status of Donbas

12.10.2018 11:45

Ukrinform

The United States praised the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to extend the law on the special order of local self-governance in the temporarily occupied territory of Donbas, describing it as a “brave step.”

“The United States congratulates Ukraine’s Parliament and Ukrainian leadership on extending the law on special status for Russia-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine,” reads the press statement of the U.S. Department of State, released on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

As the U.S. Department of State stressed, it "demonstrates Ukraine’s continued commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and implementation of the Minsk agreements."

The United States described extending the law as Ukraine’s “brave step towards peace stands in sharp comparison to Russia’s continued failure to fulfill its Minsk commitments.”

The United States also called on the Russian Federation to "to join Ukraine in pursuing peace… cease hostilities, withdraw foreign fighters, exchange detainees, or disband the illegal armed formations… and cancel the illegal sham elections it is organizing in the Russia-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine.”

“The United States continues to support the efforts of France and Germany in the Normandy Format to advance implementation of the Minsk agreements and we remain open to dialogue with Moscow on avenues for restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,” the statement underscores.