Russia Backs Plan by Ukraine Separatists for an Early Election

[Purveyor]

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and ANDREW ROTHOCT. 28, 2014

MOSCOW — Setting the stage for renewed tensions with the West, the Russian government said on Tuesday that it would recognize the results of coming elections in the separatist-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine, where rebel leaders have scheduled a vote in defiance of the Ukrainian government and in violation of an agreement signed last month in Minsk, Belarus.

The agreement between Kiev and pro-Russian separatists, signed on Sept. 5 in Minsk, and a follow-up document signed later last month had called for local elections to be held in accordance with Ukrainian law. The Ukrainian Parliament set Dec. 7 as the date for nationwide elections, but the separatist leaders announced plans to hold the balloting on their own schedule, in early November.

The Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, told Russian news agencies that the elections to be held in the embattled regions of Donetsk and Luhansk were “important for legitimizing the authority” of the separatist governments there.

“We expect the elections to take place as agreed,” Mr. Lavrov said. “And we of course will recognize their results.”

A spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Yevhen Perebyinis, posting on Twitter, called Russia’s statements provocative and counterproductive.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/29/world/europe/vote-set-by-ukraine-separatists-wins-russias-support.html?_r=0

[Purveyor]

1. EU, U.N. Condemn Ukraine Rebels' Election Plans

BRUSSELS Wed Oct 29, 2014 3:14pm EDT

(Reuters) - The European Union and United Nations condemned plans to hold elections in rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine on Sunday, with the EU explicitly denouncing Moscow's support for the separatists' plans.

In separate statements on Wednesday, two days after Russia said it would recognize the rebel ballots, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the EU's foreign affairs service said the voting would undermine last month's outline peace deal struck in Minsk between Kiev and Moscow.

While Ban's spokesman did not directly criticize Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, the EU statement hit out at Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for his comments on Monday in support of the separatists' plans.

"We deplore Minister Lavrov's remarks about Russia's forthcoming recognition of the elections," the spokesman of the European External Action Service said, just as EU officials were trying to broker a deal in Brussels between Moscow and Kiev to ensure Russian gas supplies to Ukraine over the coming winter.

The EU echoed a call from the United States following Sunday's parliamentary election in Ukraine for Russia to help ensure people in Donetsk and Luhansk could vote in local ballots being organized nationwide by the Kiev authorities on Dec. 7.

more...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/29/us-ukraine-crisis-elections-criticism-idUSKBN0II24Y20141029

[Duckhunter935]

2. so they broke the agreement again

what else is new. Here is what will happen I would guess. Elections will be held, pro-Russians will win and request help from Russia. Then Russia will be able to send in all of their troops in just answering the request. Makes it easier to annex that part of Ukraine.

[msongs]

3. what's the russian word for sudetenland? nt

[Duckhunter935]

4. it is very eerie

Google translate, do not know if right

Судеты

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. I don't think Russia wants to annex eastern Ukraine.

It wants the hostile government in Kiev weak and struggling.

And it would probably like lots of regional autonomy for the Moscow-friendly east.

That way it can have some control without having an all-out confrontation with the West.