The two sides discussed holding on the previous day of the early Presidential elections. A.Deshchytsia thanked the ODIHR Director for his support and assistance in organizing the biggest ever ODIHR election observation mission with almost half of all international observers at the elections representing the OSCE. He also highly assessed the work of the OSCE observers, who testified to the transparency and legitimacy of the electoral process, which was held in accordance with international commitments and provided adequate conditions for free expression of will of the Ukrainian people on the election day.

The meeting’s participants condemned activities of armed groups, which receive support from the territory of the Russian Federation, aimed at derailing the elections in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions thus stripping a vast number of Ukrainian citizens residing in this region of the possibility to cast their votes for their candidates for the post of the head of state.

J.Lenarcic also thanked the Ukrainian side for providing assistance to the mission’s work and confirmed the ODIHR readiness to support the Ukrainian authorities in implementing the program of reforms.