Poroshenko: Kiev to Talk With 'Ukrainian' Donbass Only After Local Election

Kiev will negotiate with Donbass, but only after the local elections are held, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Thursday.

KIEV (Sputnik) – In April, the Ukrainian president announced that local elections would take place October 25.

"We must ensure the fair and transparent expression of people’s will, and we are going to negotiate with Donbass, but with a different Donbass, a Ukrainian Donbass, after fair elections have been held."

Ukraine needs effective mechanisms in order to implement the Minsk agreements on reconciliation because “a word and signature” is not working, Poroshenko said.

"The development of the events after signing the Minsk agreements shows that we need effective mechanisms to implement the Minsk agreements because ‘a word and signature’ isn’t working regardless of the fact that Ukraine is fulfilling all its obligations."

The Minsk peace deal proclaims a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, the withdrawal of heavy artillery from the contact line, prisoner exchanges and increased autonomy for the Donetsk and Lugansk regions via constitutional reforms.