Elections possible only if there is ceasefire and everyone able to vote – UDAR

UDAR, the party led by Vitali Klitschko, insists that elections cannot be held in Ukraine as long as there is active hostilities. The party argues that elections should be based on the security situation and the guaranteed right for all citizens to freely choose their leaders, not on the government or opposition's approval ratings.

Over the past five years, the issue of elections has resurfaced regularly during the ongoing war, but this time it was driven by opinion polls and political calculations rather than necessity. The party emphasizes that elections should strengthen Ukraine, not weaken it. They point out that during wartime, it is nearly impossible to ensure equal access to the electoral process for all Ukrainians, especially those on the front lines, in occupied territories, near the front lines, or those who have been internally displaced.

The right to vote is closely tied to the right to be elected, and this balance is disrupted when military personnel and other vulnerable groups lack equal access to polls and candidates' campaigns. UDAR warns that holding elections during active hostilities would put polling stations, public events, and candidates' offices at risk of enemy shelling.

They also express concern over the potential for enemy attacks to disrupt the electoral process through cyberattacks, disinformation, and undermining public trust in the results. Party officials stress that Ukrainian politicians, regardless of their political affiliation, should prioritize the survival of the war and the achievement of peace, rather than fixating on elections.

The timing of elections should be dictated by the state's security and its capacity to guarantee every Ukrainian the right to vote and be elected freely. Only under these conditions would elections bolster Ukraine's strength rather than undermine it. Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov echoed similar sentiments, urging the country to seek a lawful, secure, and realistic mechanism to restore a democratic process amid the prolonged war.

He argued that the duration of the conflict should not be an excuse to abandon democratic processes, and Russia should not dictate when Ukrainians can cast their votes. Fedorov emphasized that finding a solution to this complex situation is possible, just as Ukraine has overcome numerous seemingly insurmountable challenges in the past.