Talks to end Ukraine conflict

François Hollande said the elections planned for October in the rebel territories, which Kiev had denounced as illegal, would “probably” not take place yet and said he hoped Ukraine would pass a new law which allowed the vote to take place and would guarantee a full amnesty for all those taking part. This suggestion, which could effectively see rebel military commanders elected under Ukrainian law, will be unpalatable to many in Kiev.
The Donetsk rebels had planned to hold elections on 18 October, while the Luhansk statelet had set elections for 1 November. The compromise plan would involve the Ukrainian parliament passing a law stating these elections were indeed legal, but they would be organised by the rebels. Aside from the emotional issue of the amnesty, Ukraine had been uneasy about this suggestion, feeling it would push the territories back inside Ukraine legally and financially, but Kiev would still have no political control.