KIEV (Sputnik) — The February Minsk peace accord stipulates that both constitutional reform aimed at power decentralization in Ukraine and local elections in the rebellious Donetsk and Lugansk regions are to take place before the end of 2015.
"The situation [in eastern Ukraine] should be stabilized before the end of 2015, the control over the border [with Russia] must be regained," Klimkin said in an interview with Ukrainian Glavcom online newspaper.
According to Klimkin, Kiev is trying to explain that it is necessary to "prepare for real elections."
"We are not saying that the elections will be perfect, no one is saying that. But at least it should be a free and fair election under the full control of the international community, under the full supervision of the OSCE. If this is not implemented, there will be no other things that will help further stabilization."
Klimkin noted that the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) should have access to the border to monitor the situation there three months prior to the elections.
Kiev authorities have set local elections in the country for October 25. However, the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics have said that their own separate elections would be held on October 18 and November 1 respectively.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has stated that the elections prepared by the self-proclaimed republics will have "devastating consequences" for the peace process.
