EU: Ukraine must decide on elections itself, in accordance with the Constitution

The European Union has stated that Ukraine should decide for itself when to hold elections, respecting the Constitution, domestic legislation and democratic standards.

European Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said on Thursday, August 20, that the decision to organize the elections lies with Ukrainian institutions.

"Ukraine itself must decide when to develop them, with full respect for its legal framework," Hipper declared, according to a European Pravda correspondent in Brussels.

She stressed that the European Union is ready to support Ukraine throughout the electoral process, if the authorities in Kiev decide to organize elections.

"The constitutional frameworks are in place and the decision should be taken by Ukraine - if it decides to do so," the European Commission spokeswoman added.

Brussels' statements come at a time when the debate has returned in Ukraine about the possibility of holding elections, despite the country continuing to be at war.

The issue is particularly complicated due to the state of emergency created by the conflict, as well as the practical challenges of organizing an electoral process in a country where part of the territory is occupied, while millions of citizens are abroad.

On August 18, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for the creation of a legal, secure, and realistic mechanism that would enable elections to be held in Ukraine.

The debate on the elections is expected to remain a sensitive political issue, especially if diplomatic efforts to end the war bring new conditions for the gradual return of democratic processes.

From Brussels, the message seems clear: the EU does not seek to set the date of elections in Ukraine, but expects any decision by Kiev to be in accordance with the Constitution, the country's laws, and democratic standards.