On Wednesday, Volodymyr Zelensky clearly defined the conditions under which the postponed presidential elections will take place in the country. He was responding to information about growing pressure from the US administration to restore democratic processes as soon as possible.
Ukraine will hold elections only after security guarantees and a ceasefire with Russia are confirmed, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday. According to AFP, he rejected reports that his administration is under pressure from the United States to hold new elections earlier, writes TASR.
- Ukraine will hold elections only after the ceasefire with Russia.
- Zelenskyy confirmed the need for security guarantees.
- Russia must agree to a cease-fire in order for elections to take place.
- Martial law has suspended elections since the start of the Russian invasion.
- Ukrainians are not interested in elections during the war.
Zelenskyj: We will conclude a ceasefire and there will be elections
“We will proceed to the elections when all the necessary security guarantees are met,” Zelenskyy said to journalists in a voice message. “I said it is very simple: we will conclude a ceasefire and the elections will take place,” he added.
If Russia also agrees to this, it is possible that “hostile actions will end by the summer”, said the Ukrainian president.
Martial law in Ukraine
The British newspaper Financial Times previously reported that Kiev is considering the possibility of holding presidential elections within the next three months after facing pressure from Washington, reports AFP.
Elections in Ukraine are effectively suspended due to martial law since the Russian invasion in 2022, AFP explains. Russia has repeatedly tried to challenge Zelensky’s legitimacy because his term officially ends in 2024. However, opinion polls show that the Ukrainian public has little interest in elections during the war.
