G7 Foreign Ministers Call On Kiev Authorities To Ensure Transparent Voting At Runoff

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th April, 2019) The foreign ministers of Group of Seven (G7) member countries said on Saturday that they expected the Ukrainian authorities to secure a fair and transparent voting process at the upcoming second round of the presidential election.

The two-day meeting of G7 foreign ministers was held on Friday and Saturday in France's seaside resorts of Dinard and Saint-Malo. The event came as preparation for the 45th G7 summit that would be held in Biarritz in late August.

"We also expect the Ukrainian authorities to ensure a fair, free, transparent and inclusive vote throughout the elections," the ministers said in a joint communique.

The G7 top diplomats went on to call on Kiev to deliver on commitments such as tackling corruption, strengthening the rule of law and protecting media freedom.

The first round of Ukraine's presidential election was held on March 31 and resulted in none of the candidates gaining the absolute majority needed to win the race. Volodymyr Zelenskiy led with 30.24 percent of the vote, while incumbent Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko came in second with 15.95 percent. The two candidates will face each other in the runoff on April 21.