On November 2, the two self-proclaimed states of Ukraine, the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic, held general elections.

In the latest reaction, European leaders do not acknowledge the legitimacy of this vote.

Self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic Prime Minister Alexander Zakharchenko participates in the election campaign (AFP Photo)

A spokesperson for the German Government said that during the phone call between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the parties had different views on the election.

According to the German Prime Minister and the French President, only the last parliamentary election was in accordance with Ukraine’s constitution.

Meanwhile, Ukraine urged Russia to increase pressure on opposition forces to not hold confrontational elections in the East of the country.

On the same day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned Moscow not to recognize the election starting on November 2 of the opposition forces in Eastern Ukraine.

According to him, the votes taking place in Donetsk and Lugansk will weaken efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in this country.

“Russia’s actions in Ukraine violate international law.

Mr. Stoltenberg also called on Moscow to respect the Minsk commitment that the Russians signed, helping pave the way for a peaceful solution in Ukraine.

On November 1, US State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said that the US will not recognize the results of the opposition’s election taking place tomorrow in the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk and Lugansk.

“We are concerned about the illegal election that the opposition in Eastern Ukraine organized on November 2.

However, contrary to the West’s stance, Russia announced that it would recognize the controversial election results of opposition forces in Eastern Ukraine.

In an interview, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: “The elections held on November 2 in the Lugansk People’s Republic and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic will be very important from the point of view of legitimacy.

Thus, with opposing views between Russia and the West regarding the election in the Eastern region in Ukraine, this could aggravate the already tense relationship between the parties after the crisis.

Previously, on October 29, the European Union announced that it did not rule out the possibility of imposing a new sanctions package against Russia in case Moscow officially recognized the elections in the Donetsk People’s Republic and the People’s Republic of China.

According to Vu Anh Tuan (summary)

VOV- News Center