What is interesting with this statement by the top Russian mercenary is the simple fact that;
1. Minsk 1 and 2 on the exchange of POWs has never been fulfilled by Russian and her mercenaries with still over 400 Ukrainian civilians and military prisoners known to be alive not exchanged—in fact there are solid hearsay a number have been moved to Russian territory
2. the Russian troops and her mercenaries never did comply wit the verifiable withdrawal of heavy weapons and blamed the Ukrainians constantly
3. Russia has maintained a massive resupply of both troops, weapons, fuel and munitions into the Ukraine strictly against the Minsk agreements
4. with every ceasefire the Russian troops and her mercenaries never did actually “ceasefire” but used them as a cover to position for new offensives that gathered only more Ukrainian territory under their control
BUT what both Russia and her mercenaries are really attempting to sidestep and massively sidestep is the simple fact that the core demand by Russia for a “special zone law for the occupied territories” was in fact passed and signed into law BUT with a significant catch that Russia did not see coming nor anticipated—namely the Ukrainians tied the new law to the single demand ALSO written into Minsk 1 and 2 all elections must be under Ukrainian election laws, be free and independent and transparent AND must conform to Ukrainian overall law---THUS really a de facto recognition by Russia that the occupied territories are actually Ukrainian AND actually this same opinion was echoed by a number of the mercenary sub commanders who had become dissatisfied by Russia allowing Minsk 1 and 2 to occur. and have voiced recently their thoughts on the matter.
MANY social media types--notice no western government representatives ---have stated Russia would never allow the elections to occur which is what this statement below aims at—stopping any such election and law form going into effect.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32363766
Ukraine rebel leader Zakharchenko asserts claims