KIEV, November 3 (RIA Novosti) — Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Monday that Kiev complies with the spirit and letter of Minsk protocol but has to introduce changes to its action plan amid the elections of November 2 in Donbas.
"Ukraine never ceases to comply with the spirit and letter of the Minsk protocol. Amid the gross violations by the other sides we have to introduce changes into our action plan. I have already discussed the new situation, which had arisen, with the Minister of Defense. Tomorrow I will convene the National Security and Defense Council where we will closely analyze the situation and introduce the needed changes into our action plan, based on both optimistic and pessimistic scenarios," Poroshenko said in a statement published on his official website.
In April, Ukrainian authorities launched a military operation in the country's southeast, where independence supporters refused to accept the new government put in power following a coup in February.
On Sunday, the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics held elections for the heads of local government and representatives of the legislative bodies. The electoral process went ahead with no violations recorded that could affect the results.
Kiev and several western countries said they would not recognize the results of this vote and have repeatedly called it illegitimate. Russia, however, has emphasized that not recognizing the results of the elections in Donbas would run counter to the Minsk protocol and undermine efforts to establish peace in the country.
