The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, emphasized that conducting elections in Ukraine is only possible under the condition of a ceasefire and security guarantees. He expressed this position during a meeting with Ukrainian journalists in Brussels.
This is reported by Kyiv24
EU’s Position on Elections in Ukraine
Borrell stressed Russia’s refusal even to agree to a short-term “Christmas” ceasefire, which, according to him, indicates the Kremlin’s unwillingness to end the war. He noted that only after the cessation of hostilities can sustainable peace be achieved, which would allow for elections to be organized. Guarantees are also needed that Russia will not initiate new shelling during the electoral process.
“I just heard today that Russia is rejecting even a Christmas ceasefire, so they clearly do not want to end this war. Therefore, there must be a ceasefire. And after the ceasefire, a tangible, sustainable peace. If there is peace, of course, you can also organize elections. But for that, security guarantees are needed that the Russians will not start bombing,” said Josep Borrell.
He also noted that public attention should not only focus on the elections in Ukraine but also on the situation regarding elections in the Russian Federation, where, according to him, there have been no free and fair elections for the past 25 years. Borrell emphasized that according to the constitutional norms of most countries, elections during wartime are prohibited, as this could lead to political instability during a period of external threat.
Discussion on Conducting Elections Amid Martial Law
Amid discussions about the possibility of organizing elections in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump recently stated that presidential elections, which have “long been overdue,” need to be held in the country and accused the Ukrainian authorities of using the war as an excuse to postpone them. In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his readiness for elections and called on the U.S. to assist in ensuring security during the electoral process. Zelensky also held consultations with representatives of the Verkhovna Rada, awaiting their position on the possibility of conducting elections during the period of martial law.
Previously, Trump had already called for elections to be held in Ukraine and even referred to Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator,” but later refrained from making similar statements. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other representatives of the Russian Federation claim that Zelensky is illegitimate since there were no presidential elections in 2024 in Ukraine, and they also question the legitimacy of Ukrainian authorities.
It is worth noting that according to current legislation, the conduct of elections in Ukraine is prohibited during the period of martial law, which has been in effect since February 24, 2022.