Zelensky explains why local elections cannot be held in Donbas

He said this in an interview with Politico Europe, the press service of the head of state reported.

When asked whether it is possible to hold local elections in the uncontrolled territories of Donbas, the President replied: "No, it isn't. I can give a more detailed answer. I told French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Russian President Vladimir Putin that we will not have observers there if there is no border [under our control] and we are not able to control the election process. None of the Western observers will be able to come there. Therefore, elections will never be open there."

"The Ukrainian border should be controlled by the Ukrainian authorities," he said. "I say this openly and I believe that it cannot be otherwise ... it's just physically impossible."

At the same time, he recalled that one of the "Minsk" clauses was the withdrawal of all illegal armed formations from the territory, after which Ukraine regains full control of its external borders.

Local elections in Ukraine, except for the temporarily uncontrolled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, will take place on October 25.

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