More from Poroshenko's Twitter feed, in case the world missed the message:
Interfax carries the response to President Poroshenko's statement by the self-styled leaders of the breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk "people's republics." The demand for talks on "an equitable basis" and the insistence that the hastily cobbled-together votes were legitimate are likely to be problematic, for starters. But mostly, it appears aimed at trying to rebuff Poroshenko's suggestion that separatist-held areas risk losing special status granted them by Ukrainian authorities. Here's the whole story from Interfax:
The self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics have announced that they are ready to continue the dialogue with Kyiv, but exclusively on an equitable basis.
"Kyiv will have to take note of the opinion of the people of Donbas, whether it likes it or not. No political or legal tricks will work here. No acts which Ukraine will adopt unilaterally, without the consent of the newly elected authorities of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, will be enforced in our territory," says a joint statement, signed by deputy head of the government of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Purgin and chairman of the Supreme Council of the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic Karyakin.
"The Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics are open for further dialogue, but this dialogue must proceed on an equitable basis," the statement says.
The statement also says that the elections in the people's republics were held in compliance with the Minsk accords "within the timeframe set and in accordance with the procedure agreed upon by representatives of the republics, Russia and Ukraine."
But Ukraine violated the agreements, misrepresenting the agreed resolution on the law on the special status of Donbas, it says.
"Since this law knowingly omitted the territories to which this status applies, the law has never taken effect. In fact it is legally null and void. It will have to be edited, or annulled as a senseless act, whose sole purpose is to mislead the world public," the statement says.
On September 1 representatives of the two republics informed the Kyiv leadership in Minsk about their negotiating positions, with the terms of the settlement listed, it says.
"First, we demanded that Ukraine recognize the special status of the territories controlled by the people's republics, and create conditions - first of all end the military operation - for free elections of the republic's heads and parliaments on the basis of the principles of independent democratic self-government," the statement says.
"We pledged - if Ukraine fulfils our demands - to apply maximum effort, as required by Point 8 of the negotiating positions, to maintain peace and to save the single economic, cultural and political space in Ukraine and the entire space of Russian-Ukrainian civilization," it says.
"We reaffirm our commitments and are saying again to the Kyiv leadership that they accepted our terms and must implement them in full," the statement says.
President Poroshenko has issued a statement on his official website dismissing the weekend votes as a "pseudo-elections" organized by "bandits, terrorists, and invaders" who "crowned themselves king."
He cites "several important, and not very pleasant, events" and goes on to pledge "never [to] stop our progress toward Europe" and notes that results are nearly finalized from the national elections on October 26 (won by pro-European parties).
He calls the October elections "also important in that they took place in the liberated part of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions," and adds that "as President of Ukraine, I am ready for dialogue with those [elected representatives whom] they have chosen."
Then he goes on at length to dismiss the voting organized by pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk on November 2.
"...[T]he vote yesterday -- pseudo-elections in the part of the Donbas that is, unfortunately, still controlled by militants -- was the exact opposite." He goes on to call the votes "farce under the muzzles of tanks and machines" that has "nothing to do with" choice or will.
"The bandits, terrorists, and invaders can crown themselves as deputy prime ministers and ministers. Even as kings and emperors. But...they remain occupiers, thieves, and militants."
He goes on to call the vote a "gross violation" of the Minsk Protocol of September 5, and says Ukraine will "reexamine" its commitments under that deal.
He also says he has called a meeting for Tuesday of top advisers to discuss "adjustments" to his strategy for dealing with eastern Ukraine and says he will propose to the National Security Council "the abolition" of the law extending special status to "certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk."
He notes that "decentralization remains in our arsenal as a key element of a political settlement in the Donbas" and suggests an international fund for rebuilding infrastructure in the area to help bring "peace and security."
He concludes: "Despite provocations, a diplomatic path to settlement remains a priority for the Ukrainian leadership. At the same time, we will continue to strengthen our intense defenses in case events develop counter to our desires. This issue will also be considered tomorrow by the [National Security and Defense Council]."
Here's the Ukrainian-language version of Poroshenko's statement.
This is citing a 24TV.ua report that says Poroshenko wants to cancel the law on the "special status" of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, passed pursuant to the Minsk protocol that Kyiv has accused the separatists (and effectively Russia) of reneging on by holding the weekend votes.
Reuters flash:
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT POROSHENKO CALLS MEETING OF SECURITY CHIEFS FOR TUESDAY TO DISCUSS CHANGING ACTION PLAN FOR HANDLING SEPARATIST REBELLION FOLLOWING REBEL VOTE - STATEMENT