MWE Correspondent
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said holding elections under Ukraine’s current wartime conditions would be impossible, warning that a nationwide vote could destabilize the country and deepen divisions.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Zelenskyy said his immediate priority was ending the war while preserving Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty.
“Elections right now would be a tsunami for the country that would tear Ukraine apart,” Zelenskyy said, according to the Ukrinform news agency.
The Ukrainian leader said his government would be prepared to discuss the possibility of holding elections only if international partners could provide concrete guarantees that the process would be conducted safely, legitimately and democratically.
Such guarantees, he said, would need to ensure that voting could take place without the threat of missile strikes, shelling or other attacks that could endanger voters and undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
The debate over Ukraine’s elections has continued as the country remains under martial law following the escalation of the conflict. A presidential election had been expected to take place in 2024, but the vote was postponed because martial law prevents the holding of elections under the current legal framework.
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Zelenskyy’s position comes amid growing discussion over whether Ukraine should develop a legal mechanism to allow elections to take place despite the ongoing conflict.
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov recently argued that the country should explore ways of organizing elections safely and legally, even while the conflict continues.
However, the practical challenges remain significant. Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced, with many living abroad or in areas affected by fighting, while parts of the country continue to face regular attacks.
Zelenskyy has maintained that any future election must meet democratic standards and allow citizens to participate freely and safely. Holding a vote without addressing security concerns and ensuring broad participation, he suggested, could threaten national unity at a time when Ukraine remains focused on the war.
For now, Zelenskyy said, his government’s central objective remains bringing the conflict to an end and safeguarding Ukraine’s status as an independent and sovereign state.
