On March 17, the Ukrainian parliament passed a bill saying that the Donesk and Lugansk self-proclaimed people's republics may receive a special administrative status only after holding elections in line with the laws of Ukraine and under supervision of international monitors. The legislation was adopted much to Paris' discontent, according to Le Monde.
"Even if these elections and weaponry withdrawal are in line with the Minsk agreements, they should be held after political process is launched and Donbass receives autonomy," the French daily said. "Changing the course of events possibly weakens the peace process that is already hard to manage since Kiev authorities demand 'political pluralism' in the region and also want Ukrainian media to be present there."
These differences will negatively affect the debate on introducing changes to the Ukrainian constitution, which has to be the next step of the political process. "It resembles a dialogue of deaf people," Le Monde said. Kiev failed to carry out serious reforms, which would provide autonomy to the self-proclaimed republics and give them some control over Kiev's decisions, according to the daily.
