Ukraine has begun serious preparations for holding elections during the ongoing war. On June 13, the first meeting of a working group was held to develop legislative proposals for conducting elections under martial law, as announced by First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Oleksandr Korniyenko.
The meeting was divided into two main parts: organizational discussions and a session featuring the Central Election Commission (CEC). The group consists of over 60 participants, including representatives from parliamentary factions, key civil organizations, executive authorities, law enforcement, and five CEC members, including the commission’s head.
In addition to officials, external experts without official working group status also have the opportunity to participate. The session was broadcast online for public oversight. The State Voter Register has resumed operations, and the citizens' database will be updated accordingly.
However, the Presidential Office highlighted that Ukraine currently lacks financial capacity to hold elections as the state budget is directed toward defense and social needs due to a significant deficit.
Experts and CEC members noted that conducting transparent elections would be almost impossible without a ceasefire agreement. Within the president’s team, opinions remain divided on the feasibility of elections during wartime, and any decision depends on the pace of peace negotiations.
Participants emphasized that even after a ceasefire agreement is signed, organizing, holding, and achieving international recognition of elections will present significant challenges. Risks include possible foreign interference and Ukraine’s tough economic conditions.
Experts stressed that the process outcome will greatly depend on international support, political stability, and global developments such as future US elections.
