Ruslan Stefanchuk: Two key criteria are essential for Ukraine in the upcoming elections — security and democracy
23 December 2025, 17:10
The Verkhovna Rada has begun professional work on possible legislative approaches to electoral procedures as part of Ukraine's political dialogue with international partners on ensuring democratic processes after the end of the russian-Ukrainian war.
According to Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, after the end of the war, Ukraine will need a special election format, which is currently not provided for by either the Constitution of Ukraine or the current Electoral Code. Today, he said, the current legislation of our state only provides for regular and early elections.
«The upcoming elections, which will take place after the war, will in fact be of a different nature — “post-scheduled” — and therefore require a separate legislative act,» explained Ruslan Stefanchuk, noting that a working group headed by First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko has been set up in Parliament. It includes representatives of all parliamentary factions and groups, civil society and the professional electoral community. The working group is tasked with developing answers to a wide range of issues related to the organisation of such elections and preparing the text of a legislative initiative, which will be considered by Parliament in accordance with the procedure established by the Regulations of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasised that two key criteria for the upcoming elections are fundamental for Ukraine: security and democracy. «Parliament must adopt a decision that will ensure that the elections are held in safe conditions and meet democratic standards so that the Ukrainian people can freely express their will and elect the government with which they associate the future of the state,» said the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. He stressed that this is a fundamental difference between Ukraine and its international partners and russia — a commitment to democratic values and standards.