The United States understands that the presidential elections in Ukraine scheduled for next spring will not take place due to the war that Russia is waging on the territory of Ukraine.
As State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said at a briefing, the United States supports the preservation of a strong democracy in Ukraine, but understands that the elections technically cannot take place due to martial law in Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
In his daily address on Monday, Volodymyr Zelensky said he was not seeking to change course, saying that now was not the time for elections and emphasizing that Ukrainians need unity in the fight against Russia.
"It is important to remember that Ukraine is in this position because Russia continues to wage its full-scale illegal war against Ukraine. The Ukrainian people are fighting for survival," Patel told reporters.
He reminded that Russia still controls 20% of Ukraine's territory and strikes civilian infrastructure daily, and several million citizens have been internally displaced or temporarily fled the country.
According to the representative, the United States also made clear to Ukrainian partners its commitment not only to support Ukraine in its struggle, but also to "maintain a cautious and constitutional approach to maintaining the strength of democracy in wartime." The forced cancellation of the regular elections, Patel said, is in line with the Ukrainian Constitution and the law.
