Antony Blinken says there will be no elections in Ukraine until war with Russia is over and ‘all Ukrainians can vote’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained that elections in Ukraine will not take place until the country's conflict with Russia concludes and “all Ukrainians” can participate in the voting process. During a speech in Kyiv, Blinken outlined the United States' efforts to work with the Ukrainian government and civil society groups to assist with Ukraine's election infrastructure. 

“As soon as Ukrainians agree that conditions allow, all Ukrainians, including those displaced by Russia's aggression, can exercise their right to vote,” Blinken explained. “People in Ukraine and around the world can have confidence that the voting process is free, fair, secure.”

Blinken went on to state that Ukraine has the full support of the United States, claiming that, “The United States has been by your side from day one. We’re with you today. And we will stay by your side, until Ukraine’s security, its sovereignty, its ability to choose its own path is guaranteed.”

“Indeed, the American people’s support for Ukraine has been consistent over the course of the war; it has never wavered,” he added.

“Americans understand that our support for Ukraine strengthens the security of the United States and our allies."

Blinken’s visit to Kyiv was the first visit by a member of the Biden administration since the delayed US foreign aid was approved for the country. During his visit, Zelensky urged Blinken to have the US provide even more military aid to the country, according to CNN. 

“We want to get it as soon as possible, and the second point is air defense, the biggest deficit for us. I think the biggest problem is that we really need today two patriots for the Kharkiv region, because there are people – they are under attack, civilians, warriors, everybody – they are under Russian missiles,” Zelensky said to reporters.