Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asserted that the country is “ready for elections”, following remarks from US President Donald Trump, who suggested that Kyiv is “using war” as a pretext to delay the electoral process. Zelensky’s term is set to conclude in May 2024, but elections have been on hold since martial law was enacted amidst Russia’s ongoing invasion.
In a recent press conference, Zelensky addressed Trump’s comments made during an extensive interview with Politico. He expressed his intention to request proposals that could lead to amendments in the current electoral laws. He indicated that if security assurances could be secured from the US and other allies, elections might be feasible within the next 60 to 90 days.
“I’m asking now, and I’m stating this openly, for the US to help me, perhaps together with our European colleagues, to ensure security for the elections,” he said.
According to Zelensky, the decision regarding elections ultimately belongs to the Ukrainian populace. “The issue of elections in Ukraine, I believe, depends first and foremost on our people, and this is a question for the people of Ukraine, not the people of other countries. With all due respect to our partners,” he noted.
He also responded to allegations that he is clinging to power, describing such narratives as “frankly, a completely unreasonable narrative”.
Challenges to holding elections amid conflict
Zelensky, who won the presidency in 2019 with over 73% of the vote, faces significant practical hurdles in organizing elections during wartime. Soldiers on the front lines may either be unable to vote or require leave to do so. Additionally, the United Nations reports that approximately 5.7 million Ukrainians are currently living abroad due to the conflict, complicating the electoral process further.
Lesia Vasylenko, a Ukrainian opposition MP, emphasized the impracticality of holding elections during wartime, referencing the suspension of elections in the UK during World War Two. Oleksiy Goncharenko, another opposition MP, expressed skepticism about Zelensky’s plans, arguing that elections encompass more than just casting votes; they involve debates, campaigns, and a comprehensive electoral process.
Political consensus against elections during martial law
Discussions surrounding the possibility of elections have gained attention since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. However, there seems to be little domestic political impetus for Zelensky to initiate elections while the conflict endures. Oleksandr Merezhko, chairman of the foreign policy committee in Ukraine’s parliament, pointed out a “strong consensus” among politicians and civil organizations against holding elections under martial law.
Even opposition parties, which are generally critical of Zelensky, have voiced their opposition to elections during wartime. Merezhko stated, “An election campaign would be divisive. Having failed to destroy us from outside, Putin wants to destroy us from within, using elections as another tool to do so.”
A March poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology revealed that about 78% of respondents were opposed to holding elections after a ceasefire unless security guarantees were in place. This figure decreased to 63% in September, while the percentage of those who believed elections could be conducted following a secure ceasefire rose from 9% to 22%.
As the debate continues, Zelensky is also facing intensified pressure from Trump to negotiate a peace agreement to conclude the war, with Trump suggesting that Zelensky should consider ceding territory to Russia. The Kremlin has echoed these sentiments, framing Trump’s remarks as consistent with Moscow’s perspective on the conflict.