You're reading: Lavrov doubts elections can be held in Ukraine amid security operation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it is surprising that presidential elections are being held in Ukraine when the Ukrainian law enforcement services are carrying out an operation in southeastern regions.

“Holding elections in a situation where the armed forces are being used
against part of the population is rather unusual. It’s not Afghanistan,
where a war is going on, but elections did take place,” Lavrov said at a
press conference in Vienna.