On 27 March 2014 Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Olefirov met with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Delegation headed by Mr. Joao Soares, Special Co-ordinator to lead the short-term OSCE observer mission to Ukraine at the early Presidential elections on 25 May 2014, and Mr. Makis Voridis, Head of the OSCE PA Delegation. The OSCE PA delegation will observe the election process on the invitation of the Acting President, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov.

The Ukrainian side confirmed its commitments to conduct free, fair and transparent early Presidential elections and to provide all necessary assistance to the international observers in their monitoring activities.

The sides exchanged views on the current situation in Ukraine and recent developments around Russia’s illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The OSCE PA delegation reaffirmed its support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.