Main points
- The Office of the President of Ukraine emphasized that elections are possible only under conditions of citizen security, given the ongoing war.
- The Financial Times reported on the US demand to hold elections by May 15, but the OP attributes this to the security situation in the country.
The OP commented on possible elections / Collage of Channel 24, photo Getty Images
The Office of the President of Ukraine responded to the Financial Times' information about the alleged US demand to hold elections by May 15. The department emphasized that Ukraine is not against elections, but the priority should be the safety of citizens.
Information about the elections has been circulating in the information space for a long time, but it is currently impossible, representatives of the opposition told Ukrinform.
Are elections in Ukraine possible on May 15?
The President's Office reminded that the war is ongoing, so the security situation remains unstable.
If Russians are killing every day, how can we announce or seriously consider elections in the coming weeks? No one is against elections, but there must be security,
– noted in the OP.
The department also recalled that just last night, Russian shelling took the lives of three children in the Kharkiv region, who were not even two years old.
Earlier, the Financial Times, citing its own sources, reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump allegedly demanded that presidential elections and a referendum on the peace agreement with Russia be held by May 15. The publication also noted that the White House threatened to deprive Kyiv of security guarantees otherwise.
The OP emphasized that preparations for the elections are possible only if the security of citizens is ensured.
What has been said recently about the elections in Ukraine?
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The presidential election could cost Ukraine between 4.5 and 6.5 billion hryvnias, and the parliamentary election around 4.5 billion hryvnias. The total cost of the elections could reach 10 billion hryvnias, which exceeds Vinnytsia’s annual budget of 8.5 billion hryvnias.
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It was also previously reported that Donald Trump is insisting on holding elections in Ukraine, which raises concerns about the possibility of Russian interference. Volodymyr Zelensky is ready for elections, but emphasizes the importance of security and the need for legislative changes to hold them during the war.
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the main condition for holding elections in Ukraine is a ceasefire. 60-90 days are needed to prepare for the elections, but this period can be changed and agreed with partners and Russia.