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Pro-Russian Rebels Agree To Postpone Elections
Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine say they have decided to postpone disputed local elections in territory they control until February.
Denis Pushilin and Vladislav Deinego, the representatives of the self-proclaimed "people's republics" in parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions, said in a joint statement that local elections scheduled for October 18 and November 1 would be postponed until next year.
The statement, published on the rebels' Donetsk News Agency website, said the separatists decided to delay holding the elections after studying the results of the Paris summit on October 2 at which the leaders of Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine took part.
Pushilin and Deinego, who represent the rebels in talks moderated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said they would not hold the elections as scheduled as long as Ukraine fully implemented the "political points" of the Minsk peace agreement that was signed in February.
Ukrainian officials and several other Western countries had condemned the rebels' announcement to hold elections outside of Ukrainian jurisdiction and said it was a gross violation of the Minsk agreement.
Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax
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Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine say they have decided to postpone disputed local elections until next February.
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KYIV -- Lawmakers in Kyiv have legalized the service of foreigners in the Ukrainian armed forces.
The draft law was approved in its second reading by parliament on October 6.
Lawmakers had earlier approved in first reading a draft law that simplifies the process for foreigners serving in the Ukrainian Army to receive citizenship.
The second draft law must be voted on again before being sent to President Petro Poroshenko for his signature, which is necessary to become law.
According to the bill, foreign nationals who serve or have served in Ukraine's army will be eligible to obtain citizenship after living in the country for three years, instead of the current five years.
The bill also says foreign nationals who were decorated with a Ukrainian national medal for outstanding actions during their military service can become citizens without being required to speak fluent Ukrainian, provide documents confirming they can support themselves, or have residence permits.
Many volunteers from other countries have joined Ukrainian armed forces and volunteer brigades in the wake of the military conflict between Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists in the east that began last year and has left at least 8,900 people dead.