Ukraine is ready to carry elections in some temporarily-occupied districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but security must first be restored there, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko said delivering a speech at UN Security Council.
“Elections. We have prepared all pieces of legislation and are ready to discuss their modalities, as leaders agreed in Minsk. What we need to kickstart the election process under OSCE standards and in conformity with the Ukrainian law, as it was agreed by leaders, is a better security situation on the ground. Let’s be reasonable. No security – no one will go to hold or monitor the elections,” he said during the session on Thursday evening.
He mentioned the initiative of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to deploy the police mission in the Donbas.
“We believe it would contribute to ensuring a safe and secure environment in Donbas, in particular in the context of local elections,” Prystaiko said.
“We continue to call upon the international community including the UN and OSCE member States to constructively engage in practical implementation of this initiative,” the diplomat added.
