KYIV. Nov 9 (Interfax) - Holding elections in Donbas is doable, however, prior to that, it is necessary to liberate this territory and create a secure environment, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"I believe that elections are necessary, but they aren't an end in and of itself. The most important thing is the de-occupation of Donbas, and elections can happen after that. If everyone wants to end the war, it will definitely end, and then it [elections] is possible," Zelensky was quoted by the presidential press service as telling journalists during a working visit to Donbas.
It is impossible to hold democratic, civilized, and transparent elections without a secure environment, he said.
"Observers won't go there, and not all parties will be represented if the security situation isn't normal. [...] So what elections can we talk about?" Zelensky said.
The gradual peace plan suggested by Ukraine for consideration at a session of the Trilateral Contact Group provides an opportunity "to do all of this in order to hold elections in the spring," he said.
"But this isn't the key issue," Zelensky said.