EU recognizes Ukraine's presidential election as democratic

In view of this, the EU expressed its firm support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. A respective statement was published on the website of the European External Action Service (EEAS).

"According to the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission the election was competitive, voters had a broad choice and turned out in high numbers. Fundamental freedoms were generally respected. Some shortcomings were noted by the OSCE/ODIHR, such as misuse of state resources and vote-buying. While the media landscape is diverse, the campaign coverage was often biased, and there was a lack of genuine political debate among the contestants," the statement reads.

The EU recognized that the election day, which was peaceful, was assessed positively overall and paves the way to the second round. Voting was well-organized, smooth, transparent and efficient, and procedures were generally adhered to. In this regard, the European Union looks forward to a free, fair and transparent second round of the elections on April 21, held in accordance with international standards. According to the statement, it is important that all parties adhere to democratic principles, respecting the will of Ukrainian people and avoid provoking unnecessary tensions.

"The EU remains unwavering in its support to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. We continue to support Ukraine's commitment to ensuring a stable, prosperous and democratic future for all its citizens, with the Association Agreement providing an overarching framework for our close cooperation," the statement reads.

The presidential elections were held in Ukraine on March 31.

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