US dismisses leadership elections in separatist-controlled areas of Ukraine

The United States on Monday dismissed leadership elections in separatist-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine as a "sham" one day after voters cast their ballots.

"The United States joins our European Allies and partners in condemning the November 11 sham 'elections' in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

"Yesterday's illegitimate processes were an attempt by Moscow to institutionalize its Donbas proxies, the so-called 'Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.'"