MOSCOW. Oct 29 (Interfax) - The recognition by Russia of elections in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) scheduled for November 2 is unlikely to advance the lifting of sanctions from Moscow, Head of the EU Delegation to Russia Vygaudas Usackas said.
"We are perplexed that Russia is ready to recognize and send it observers to the elections scheduled by the self-proclaimed authorities, which go against the Minsk agreements," Usackas said at a meeting with editors at Interfax on Wednesday.
"This is unlikely to promote the de-escalation of the situation and the restoration of confidence in implementing the agreements reached," Usackas said.
"We hope for Russia's support in expanding the OSCE mandate so that Ukraine can regain full control over its border with its international monitoring," he said.
The situation in Ukraine is assuming the signs of a frozen conflict, "which would not be beneficial to anyone, be it the local residents, or Russians, or relations between the European Union and Russia," he said.