Mr. Francis M. O'Donnell:

I think the election should go ahead to the extent that the central electoral commission and government of Ukraine consider it feasible to do so. In an ideal world, a parliamentary election might follow. Why would it be a problem to have parliamentary elections now? The country is in the midst of a crisis. It needs leadership at the top that is recognised as legitimate to drive all the processes forward that need to go forward. Since Russia's questioning of the legitimacy of the current regime is part of the problématique, this election should eliminate that issue from the public sphere and allow Ukraine to go forward at the political apex with a leadership that is recognised internationally.