New Europe Center is among signatories of the statement.

Democracy must be protected even more during the war than during peacetime because the price of a mistake or loss of trust is extremely high. Our friends’ and partners’ energy should be directed at systematic work to ensure that the final result of a genuine expression of will in a secure future exclusively reflects the political will of the Ukrainian nation. Just as the international standards for peaceful and post-conflict elections are no different, there is no other measure of democracy than the real access of citizens to govern their state through their representatives, legally elected in free and fair elections by secret ballot without intimidation or threats. It is Russia that, through the unprovoked act of aggression against the sovereign state, makes holding presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine impossible. Russia is not a democracy: there is no opposition, no media, no minimum rights and freedoms, and no political pluralism. Instead, the Ukrainian consensus on elections no earlier than six months after the end of martial law is supported by the government, opposition, and society. The legitimacy of the Ukrainian government is the exclusive prerogative of the Ukrainian people.

Any peace process should take into account Ukraine’s voice and a logical sequence of actions to restore electoral cycles: 1) a sustainable ceasefire under the security guarantees of the guarantor countries; 2) preparation for elections and restoration of the relevant infrastructure; 3) holding elections after sustainable peace is achieved, martial law is lifted, and the war is settled internationally.

Elections in the perspective of the next six months do not correspond to security realities, the political and economic situation, or public sentiment in Ukraine. As of February 2025, 69% of Ukrainians believed that Volodymyr Zelenskyy should remain President until the end of martial law without holding elections. This is real proof of unity in society and respect for the military, who are currently defending Ukraine and cannot fully participate in the political process.

It is obvious that from the point of view of the Constitution and Ukrainian legislation holding elections during martial law is prohibited, and the authorities continue to legitimately and continuously exercise their powers during this period.

One of the most important challenges for holding elections in Ukraine without sustainable peace is the lack of proper legal mechanisms for organizing them and ensuring voter participation. The development of these mechanisms should take into account the consequences of aggression. In addition to establishing the necessary legal framework for post-war elections, let alone wartime elections, Ukraine needs to ensure that millions of citizens, including those who had to flee abroad, internally displaced persons who have left their homes due to the destruction of cities and villages, and military personnel defending the country, can vote.

In turn, to hold elections properly, democratic conditions must be created, including the possibility of free activity of the media, political parties, and civil society organizations, and the search for parliamentary consensus on the rules. Therefore, additional time is needed for the transformational transition between the legal regime of martial law and the election campaign.

Elections are about the freedom to form the political will and the preparation and organization of voting. Equally important are the day-to-day tasks that are critical in a post-war environment: the work of election commissions, secure voting facilities, cyber-attack-proof information systems, and transparency and security of the process as a whole.

The unstable security situation, the threats of shellings, terrorist acts and sabotage, as well as large-scale mine pollution of testimonies create substantial obstacles at all stages of the electoral process: from delivering the ballots to the polling stations to the possibility of proper observation of electoral procedures, from campaigning to potentially low voter turnout due to security threats. The fundamental principles of equal and universal suffrage could be jeopardized. Holding elections in an environment where candidates and voters can be targeted by missiles and drones is contrary to human rights principles.

The most significant challenge for electoral democracy in Ukraine is interference in this process by Russia, which will be ready to use any means to do so, from cyberattacks to direct voter bribery, from spreading disinformation and dividing society with its means to discrediting candidates “unacceptable” to the Russian authorities and financing the campaigns of loyal politicians. Ukraine—both state and society—must prepare for such interference in order to preserve the sovereignty, democracy, and freedom that Ukrainians are defending on the battlefield. This requires sufficient time, an independent audit of risks, and a significant strengthening of mechanisms to counter illegal interference in elections.

Undoubtedly, elections in Ukraine must take place—but only after the war is over, sustainable peace is achieved, and security and other conditions are in place to allow for free, fair, democratic, and accessible elections. Ukraine has never refused to hold elections, but organizing them takes time and resources, not demands.

We would sincerely appreciate it if the leaders of the free world would invest their energy and resources in guaranteeing security for Ukraine and preparing for the first post-war elections as a matter of priority. This will help ensure that they are held as soon as possible in accordance with international standards.

UKRAINIAN VERSION: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fi-9GL_W2XgoPPxbvNTEKzxKpX75jlL-4LLAqrLkwuI/edit?usp=sharing