Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced his readiness to hold presidential elections in the near future. He tasked his Servant of the People party members in parliament with preparing legislative amendments to enable elections during martial law. Currently, Ukrainian law prohibits holding elections while martial law is in effect.
Zelensky highlighted the need for help from international partners to organize safe and democratic elections. He appealed to the US and Europe to ensure security during the process, emphasizing that this would allow citizens to trust the election's fairness. The president noted the extreme difficulties of conducting an election campaign during an ongoing war: missile attacks continue, parts of the population lack access to electricity, and military personnel cannot safely participate in campaigns or voting.
Zelensky underlined that this initiative is a political response to Western leaders, especially the US president, who have called for elections even amid war. He also proposes partners help guarantee safety through technical support, air defense for Ukraine, or other means.
The president pointed out that the Russian side does not intend to stop hostilities, making elections extremely difficult without outside support. Additionally, Zelensky views the elections as an opportunity to reinforce the legitimacy of Ukraine's government in the face of international criticism and to counter Russian propaganda.
It is emphasized that if hostilities were temporarily suspended, Ukraine could conduct transparent campaigning and elections under security guarantees. For now, the ongoing martial law and external threats make such changes unlikely without US and EU support.
In conclusion, Zelensky reiterated readiness for dialogue and awaits responses from international partners. He also acknowledged that Ukraine currently lacks the strength to retake Crimea by force and seeks a constructive dialogue with the West about the country's future.
