Officials of the eastern Ukraine regions under the control of Russia-backed separatists say they will postpone local elections that were to be held in the next few weeks, an issue that had impeded progress towards a firm resolution of the conflict.

Ukraine’s President and Russian politicians hailed the move as a step towards peace in a war that has killed more than 8,000 people since April 2014. A statement from Denis Pushilin and Vladislav Deinego said the rebel-run areas of Donetsk and Luhansk provinces would put off the votes until February 21.

The two are the Donetsk and Luhansk envoys to the Minsk Group peace talks mediated by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Donetsk had planned elections on October 18 and Luhansk on November 1.

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