Zelensky: Ukraine Ready for Elections with Security Guarantees
President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated Ukraine is “ready for elections,” responding to repeated claims by former US President Donald Trump that Kyiv is leveraging the war to postpone democratic processes.
While Zelensky’s initial five-year term was set to conclude in May 2024, elections have been indefinitely suspended following the declaration of martial law after Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Addressing reporters, Zelensky indicated he would initiate proposals to amend existing legislation, potentially paving the way for a vote. He emphasized that elections could be feasible within the next 60 to 90 days, contingent upon security assurances, particularly from the United States and its allies.
“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,” Zelensky said.
He firmly asserted that the decision to hold elections ultimately rests with the Ukrainian people, stating, “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.”
Zelensky dismissed suggestions that Ukraine is deliberately delaying elections to maintain the status quo, calling such narratives “frankly, a completely unreasonable narrative.” He acknowledged hearing claims that his government is “clinging to power.”
These comments follow similar assertions from Russia, which has consistently portrayed Zelensky as an illegitimate leader and linked new elections to any potential ceasefire agreement. Trump echoed these sentiments in a recent Politico interview.
“They talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore,” Trump told Politico, suggesting without evidence that Zelensky is hindering peace negotiations.
However, Ukrainian opposition MP Lesia Vasylenko cautioned that a truly fair election would require participation from all citizens, including the approximately one million soldiers currently fighting on the front lines. “In order for these elections to be fair all of the People of Ukraine would need to be allowed to vote,” she told the BBC World Service’s Newsday programme, adding, “elections are never possible in wartime,” referencing the UK’s own wartime suspension of polls.
Public opinion, as indicated by a March poll from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), largely supports delaying elections, with approximately 78% of respondents opposing holding a vote even after a comprehensive peace settlement.
Foreign policy analyst Hanna Shelest, from Ukrainian Prism, noted that Zelensky has previously expressed willingness to hold elections when conditions permit. “Even a year ago, Zelensky said that he was ready for elections as soon as the conditions allow,” she told the BBC.
Shelest highlighted the significant logistical challenges, including ensuring the security of polling stations amidst ongoing strikes and accommodating the votes of millions of refugees and soldiers. “You cannot guarantee the security of the polling stations,” she stated.
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