Pro-Russian separatists hold elections in Eastern Ukraine
The elections have been slammed as illegitimate by the EU, Nato and the US who have vowed not to recognise the results. "We deplore the intent of separatists in parts of eastern Ukraine to hold illegitimate so-called local 'elections' on Sunday," said the White House in a statement on Friday.
Ukraine’s president, Petro Poroshenko, referred to the elections as “the pseudo-elections that terrorists and bandits want to organise on occupied territory”.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed the elections, stating that a ceasefire agreed in September allowed for elections that were "in co-ordination with, not in line with" Ukrainian plans.