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Ukraine President Poroshenko's threat after rebel polls Ukraine President Poroshenko's threat after rebel polls
(35 minutes later)
Ukraine's president is to chair a crisis meeting of security chiefs, after a rebel-held vote that he said "jeopardises the entire peace process". Ukraine's president is to chair a crisis meeting of security chiefs, after a rebel-held vote that he said jeopardised "the entire peace process".
In a TV address, Petro Poroshenko proposed scrapping a law, agreed under a truce deal, giving special status to the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk areas. Petro Poroshenko proposed scrapping a law, agreed under the 5 September truce deal, which gives special status to the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk areas.
Two pro-Russian leaders were declared the winners of Sunday's polls and are expected to be sworn in on Tuesday. Two pro-Russian leaders were declared the winners of Sunday's polls.
The West says the elections were illegal, but Russia is backing them. Under the terms of the truce, Ukraine was meant to hold elections in the two regions in December.
The West says the rebel-held elections are illegal but Russia is backing them.
More than 4,000 people have been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine since April.More than 4,000 people have been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine since April.
Ukraine accuses Russia of arming the rebels and sending Russian regular troops across the border - a claim denied by Moscow.Ukraine accuses Russia of arming the rebels and sending Russian regular troops across the border - a claim denied by Moscow.
A nominal ceasefire has been in place in eastern Ukraine since 5 September, but there have been repeated violations by both sides. Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev
The clashes in the east began a month after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula. If Ukraine's security council accepts President Petro Poroshenko's proposal, it may be just a symbolic gesture. After all, the two breakaway eastern regions already have declared their own "special status" by setting up their own governments and holding elections. But Mr Poroshenko may go even further.
He is under enormous pressure right now to show that he is not allowing the two statelets to cement their positions, and create a frozen conflict. Tellingly, in his statement the Ukrainian leader did not say he would scrap the Minsk peace plan altogether, saying instead he would recommend "adjustments" to it.
But the insurgents and their backers in Moscow may say any changes to the agreement that Kiev undertakes are tantamount to revoking it. Given the heavy artillery and fighters seen streaming into the region recently, the future of the shaky truce seems very much under doubt at the moment.
'Sham elections''Sham elections'
Addressing the nation on Monday, President Poroshenko said the 2 November "pseudo-elections" in Donetsk and Luhansk were "a farce at gunpoint", which had nothing to do with the expression of the voters' will. Addressing the nation on TV late Monday, President Poroshenko said he would hold a meeting of Ukraine's Security and Defence Council on Tuesday to propose abolishing the law granting special self-government to rebel-held areas.
He stressed that Ukraine would never recognise the vote in the two self-proclaimed rebel republics. He described the 2 November "pseudo-elections" in Donetsk and Luhansk as a "farce at gunpoint" which would never be recognised as legitimate.
Mr Poroshenko said the polls were "a gross violation" of September's Minsk agreement - a roadmap to a peaceful settlement agreed by Ukraine, Russia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and also rebel delegations. Sunday's polls, he said, were "a gross violation" of the Minsk agreement - a roadmap to a peaceful settlement agreed by Ukraine, Russia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and also rebel delegations.
He added that he would hold a meeting of Ukraine's Security and Defence Council on Tuesday to propose abolishing a law granting special self-government to rebel-held areas, something which had been approved by Kiev as part of the peace process.
"We demonstrated to residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as to the whole world, that we are sincere in our desire for political settlement," he said. "The militants refused this opportunity.""We demonstrated to residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as to the whole world, that we are sincere in our desire for political settlement," he said. "The militants refused this opportunity."
Ukraine and the West had always insisted that the rebel territories must abide by the Minsk deal and hold local elections under Ukrainian law in December. Ukraine and the West have always insisted the rebel territories must abide by the Minsk deal and hold the local elections under Ukrainian law in December.
Late on Monday, the US said it "condemns the illegitimate, so-called 'elections' held on Sunday by Russia-backed separatists in parts of Donetsk and Lugansk". The US said it condemned the "illegitimate, so-called 'elections' held on Sunday" and was "concerned by a Russian foreign ministry statement that seeks to legitimise [them]".
In a statement, White House National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan added that Washington was "concerned by a Russian Foreign Ministry statement that seeks to legitimise these sham 'elections'". EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the polls were "a new obstacle on the path towards peace", while Germany said Russia's backing of the vote was "incomprehensible".
Sanctions warning German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, warned Russia could face further sanctions as a result of its position.
Russia earlier said it "respects the will of the people of the south-east". It also called for a "sustainable dialogue" between the authorities in Kiev and the rebels. Russia earlier said it respected "the will of the people of the south-east". It called for a "sustainable dialogue" between the authorities in Kiev and the rebels.
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the polls were "a new obstacle on the path towards peace", while Germany said Russia's backing of the vote was "incomprehensible". Fragile truce
Germany has described as "incomprehensible" Russia's backing of controversial Sunday's elections in rebel-held eastern areas of Ukraine.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, warned that Russia could face further sanctions as a result of its position.
The US and EU have already targeted key sectors of the Russian economy with sanctions.
Russia has responded with a ban on food imports from some Western countries.
Results released on Monday showed Alexander Zakharchenko, the self-declared prime minister in Donetsk, had won the poll to become the head of the region. His party also came first in the parliamentary election.Results released on Monday showed Alexander Zakharchenko, the self-declared prime minister in Donetsk, had won the poll to become the head of the region. His party also came first in the parliamentary election.
In Luhansk, current PM Igor Plotnitsky was declared the winner. In Luhansk, the incumbent rebel prime minister, Igor Plotnitsky, was declared the winner.
They are both expected to be officially sworn in later on Tuesday.They are both expected to be officially sworn in later on Tuesday.
Both sides have repeatedly violated the ceasefire agreed in September.
The separatist insurrection erupted in the east after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula, weeks after Ukraine's pro-Russian President, Viktor Yanukovych, was forced out of office by mass protests in Kiev.
Are you in the Ukraine? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist, please leave a contact number.Are you in the Ukraine? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist, please leave a contact number.
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