Merkel, Poroshenko meet to discuss Donbas crisis

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday met with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the situation in Ukraine's eastern region of Donbas, the presidential press service said in a statement.

At the joint press conference, Poroshenko said that during the meeting the parties have discussed the elections in the insurgent-controlled areas in Donbas scheduled for Nov. 11, and coordinated their positions on the issue.

"The current fake elections, just as previous elections, are legally irrelevant and will not have any legal consequences. Their so-called results will never be recognized by the international community," Poroshenko told reporters.

He said that holding local elections in accordance with the Ukrainian law would be an instrument to pave the way for the peaceful resolution to the conflict.

For her part, Merkel said that the conflict in Donbas could be resolved only through peaceful means as prescribed in the Minsk agreements.

"We have nothing else but the Minsk process. It is very important that Ukraine fulfills its obligations, even if it is difficult," Merkel said.

She also thanked the Ukrainian government for extending the term of validity of the "special status" law for the Donbas till the end of the next year.

Poroshenko and Merkel, together with Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron are leaders of the Normandy Four diplomatic group, which was set up to resolve the conflict in Donbas.

Merkel arrived in Kiev earlier in the day for a one-day working visit.