U.S. State Dept denies setting specific dates for Donbas elections
KYIV. April 27 (Interfax) - United States Assistant Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, said that, at her meetings with Ukrainian parliamentarians, they did not mention any specific timeframe for elections in the breakaway parts of the Donbas region.
Reports about the meeting were not very accurate, no specific dates for the elections were mentioned, Nuland said at a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday.
U.S. officials made it absolutely clear that, for the elections to be held in accordance with the Minsk agreements, it is necessary to ensure peace and safety, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe must be given access, and conditions must be created for candidates' campaigns and meetings with voters, Nuland said.
Ukraine is working to prepare for the elections, but restoring safety in Donbas - which is not the case at the moment - remains the pre-condition, the U.S. diplomat said.