Ukraine is prepared to hold elections if security conditions can be guaranteed, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, responding to renewed claims by US President Donald Trump that Kyiv is prolonging the war to avoid a vote.
Zelensky’s five-year presidential term was due to end in May 2024, but elections have been suspended since martial law was imposed following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Speaking to reporters after Trump’s remarks in a wide-ranging interview with Politico, Zelensky said he was open to legal changes that could allow elections under specific conditions.
He explained that a vote could potentially take place within 60 to 90 days, provided security for voters, candidates and polling stations is guaranteed with the support of the United States and Ukraine’s European partners.
“I am openly asking the United States, possibly together with our European colleagues, to help ensure security for elections,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky Rejects Claims of Holding on to Power
Zelensky stressed that the decision to hold elections belongs to the Ukrainian people, not foreign governments. He rejected suggestions that he or his administration were clinging to power, calling claims that the war continues to keep him in office “completely unreasonable.”
The Ukrainian leader was elected in 2019 with more than 73% of the vote. However, Russia has repeatedly questioned his legitimacy and demanded new elections as a condition for a ceasefire—arguments that have also been echoed by Trump.
The US president has claimed democracy is undermined when elections are delayed and suggested Zelensky is an obstacle to peace, though no evidence has been presented to support those claims.
Challenges of Holding Elections During Wartime
Opposition voices in Ukraine have raised serious concerns about the practicality of elections during active conflict. Lesia Vasylenko, a Ukrainian opposition lawmaker, said a fair vote would only be possible if all citizens could participate, including soldiers fighting on the front lines.
She also pointed out that elections are commonly suspended during wartime, noting that the United Kingdom halted elections during World War Two.
Analysts highlight further obstacles, including ongoing missile strikes, unsecured territories, nearly one million active soldiers and millions of Ukrainian refugees living abroad.
“At present, it is extremely difficult to guarantee the safety of polling stations,” said Hanna Shelest, a foreign policy analyst at the Ukrainian Prism think tank.
Public Opinion and Diplomatic Pressure
Public opinion in Ukraine remains divided. A poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in March found 78% of Ukrainians opposed elections even after a ceasefire with security guarantees. By September, opposition fell to 63%, while support for elections after a ceasefire rose to 22%.
At the same time, Zelensky is facing increasing pressure from Trump to agree to a peace deal that could involve territorial concessions to Russia. Trump has criticised European leaders as weak and hinted that US support for Ukraine could be scaled back.
Zelensky is currently on a diplomatic tour of Europe following intensive but inconclusive talks between US and Ukrainian negotiators. He has urged European and NATO leaders to resist any agreement that could leave Ukraine exposed to future attacks and has firmly ruled out surrendering Ukrainian territory.