Ukraine Approves Special Status for East as Truce Strains
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Ukraine’s parliament approved a law giving special status to the country’s two easternmost regions while a cease-fire, now in its 11th day, came under threat as some separatists called for a resumption of fighting.
The parliament in Kiev approved the special status bill and an amnesty law envisaged in the cease-fire agreement, Deputy Speaker Ruslan Koshulynskiy said by phone today. Under the measure, certain areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists will hold early local elections on Dec. 7, enjoy a special economic and investment regime and have the right to use Russian as a second official language.