Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was to meet security chiefs yesterday to “re-examine” an already teetering peace accord with pro-Russian separatists after they staged elections banned by Kiev.
The elections of leaders in two unrecognized statelets in eastern Ukraine on Sunday were backed by Russia, but condemned by Ukraine, the US and EU powers.
Poroshenko late on Monday said “these pseudo elections are a gross violation” of the truce deal Kiev signed in Minsk on Sept. 5 with the separatists. The accord was meant to pave the way for an end to the seven-month separatist conflict with a ceasefire and an offer of autonomy, though not independence, for the pro-Russian insurgents.
Constant ceasefire violations have undermined the truce, with fighting breaking out again yesterday near the rebel-held city of Donetsk.
More than 4,000 people have died in the war, which has sparked the biggest diplomatic crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War.
Poroshenko said his National Security and Defense Council was to consider “abolition” of the law offering autonomy — the heart of the overall peace plan.
“The pseudo-election torpedoed the law and sharply aggravated the situation,” he said, vowing only to deal with “legitimately elected local self-government bodies, but not ... bandits who crown themselves.”
The defense chiefs meeting was set for 5pm, the presidency said.
The inaugurations of the winners of the two controversial elections in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions were due to take place a few hours ahead of the meeting in Kiev.
Separatist leaders were quoted late on Monday by Russian news agency Interfax as saying that they were ready for “dialogue” with Kiev, but only on an equal basis. They said any laws passed in Kiev without their consent would have no force.
Meanwhile, artillery bombardments started up again outside Donetsk, a correspondent reported.
“Very heavy firing started from 6:30 this morning,” local resident Tatyana said. “It’s hellish.”
Ivan, another resident, said he feared Poroshenko’s statement signalled the end of the ceasefire.
In New York, Russia blocked an attempt in the UN Security Council to criticize the polls, while EU Foreign Policy Representative Federica Mogherini told the Guardian yesterday that it would be “extremely difficult, if not impossible” to come up with a new peace initiative if the Minsk accord collapses.
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