If they were to invite them it would mean ‘politically’ they acknowledge Donetsk's recent referendum...and they won't do that.
Frankly with Crimea now Russia...if they let the Eastern area go, which they really can't, and why the fight there has escalated... there's nothing left in Ukraine the EU/US wants...that is the military,science and tech. industrial area...big bucks flow thru there..and lots of labor...Putin's military factories there. So he's not going to let Kiev/US have this area.
The insurgents refuse to participate.
That would mean surrendering their arms and leaving the buildings... and they know they will lose the elections as people form E. Ukraine want to stay part of Ukraine per polling.
“Separatist leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk were adamant that the Ukrainian elections would not take place in their regions.
Polls have indicated that most residents of eastern Ukraine would prefer to remain part of the country.”
Interesting. I wasn’t aware of Russian factories in Ukraine. That explains a lot, thanks.
I don’t understand how Kiev thinks it can keep Russian industry any more. Won’t it and the ethnic Russians just leave what’s left of Ukraine for Russia, which could absorb the already-Russian population and benefit from having the industry in Russia?