President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that decisions on the timing and format of elections in Ukraine are made exclusively by the Ukrainian people and citizens of Ukraine, not by any external actors.
According to the president, only Ukrainian citizens located in territory controlled by Ukraine can vote, as this is where fair and transparent elections can be ensured with the participation of international observers who confirm their legitimacy. He also noted that voting abroad is a normal practice.
Zelenskyy stressed that if elections are held in the future, the process may be complicated by the large number of Ukrainians abroad. He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already begun working on this issue and is engaging with partners to develop possible infrastructure for voting outside Ukraine.
The president expressed confidence that once the security situation allows, many Ukrainians abroad will be able to travel to Ukraine to take part in the vote. At the same time, he said elections cannot be held in temporarily occupied territories, as it is clear how such votes are conducted there by Russia.
Zelenskyy emphasized that elections depend on two key factors — security and legislation — with security being the most important. He added that every Ukrainian citizen, including members of the armed forces defending the country, has an absolute right to vote.
He also said the issue of election security has been discussed with U.S. partners, noting that safe elections are possible in the event of a ceasefire or the end of the war, or at least a ceasefire for the duration of the election period.