EU says Ukraine rebel vote ‘new obstacle’ to peace

The European Union said elections held Sunday by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine were illegal, would not be recognised and created a new hurdle to a resolution of the conflict. Despite warnings from Kiev and the West not to recognise the polls, Moscow moved quickly to throw its weight behind the disputed elections, deepening the international crisis over Ukraine. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko blasted the ballot as a “farce that is being conducted under the threat of tanks and guns” and the fear is they could now spell the end for a battered two-month ceasefire between government troops and rebel fighters.

The vote is illegal and illegitimate, and the European Union will not recognise it.

EU’s new foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini

The run-up to the vote saw a spate of shelling by rebels of government positions across the conflict zone, where according to UN figures more than 4,000 people have died since fighting started around seven months ago. The Security Service of Ukraine said it was opening a criminal investigation into the separatist election, which it called “a power grab”. But residents of rebel-held areas spoke of their hatred for the government in Kiev and their desire for the war to end.

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