Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready for elections but calls on American and European partners to help ensure the security of the ballot in the context of the war.
The statement comes after Donald Trump renewed his call for Ukraine to quickly organize elections. „They haven’t had elections for a long time,” Trump said in an interview with Politico. „You know, I’m talking about a democracy, but there comes a point where it’s no longer a democracy.”
In response, Zelensky stated that if security is guaranteed, elections could take place within the next 60-90 days.
A radical change
Zelensky's statements today mark a shift in Kyiv's position. Initially, Ukrainian officials had stated that elections would only take place after the end of the war, but later Zelensky said he would consider such a decision if there was at least a ceasefire, writes Kyiv Independent.
Now, however, he has urged lawmakers to draft legislative proposals that would allow changes to the electoral law during wartime.
According to martial law adopted after Russia launched a large-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, presidential, parliamentary, and local elections are prohibited. Elections can only be held after the state of war is lifted.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was first elected for a five-year term in the summer of 2019, formally completed his term in May 2024. However, the Ukrainian parliament has not scheduled an election due to the martial law in effect in the country.
Zelensky's current polling status
Only 20.3% of Ukrainians would vote for President Volodymyr Zelensky in the upcoming presidential elections, according to an Info Sapiens poll published on Tuesday. Nevertheless, Zelensky remains the candidate with the highest level of support, writes Kyiv Independent.
The survey was conducted between November 13 and 28, shortly after a major corruption scandal involving close associates of the president and government members erupted. In October, before the scandal, 24.3% of respondents said they would vote for Zelensky.
Former commander of the Ukrainian army, Valerii Zaluzhnyi - currently Ukraine's ambassador to the UK - ranks second with 19.1%, up three points from the October survey. In third place is the head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, with 5.1%.
According to the survey, 23.6% of those questioned either could not decide or preferred not to answer the question.
Updated peace plan to depart for the US on Wednesday
On the other hand, Zelensky hopes to present an updated plan to resolve the conflict with Russia to the United States on Wednesday.
"We are working today, and we will continue tomorrow. I think we will deliver it tomorrow," Zelensky said when asked by reporters if the plan had already been sent to Washington, writes France24.
Zelensky has spent the past few days traveling between European capitals to negotiate a response to the US plan. On Monday, he held talks with European leaders in London and Brussels, and on Tuesday, he traveled to Italy to meet with Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Washington's proposals involved Ukraine ceding territories that Russia has not occupied - the entire industrial region of Donbas - in exchange for security guarantees that do not fully align with Kyiv's aspirations to join NATO.
On Monday, Zelensky stated that the initial American plan of 28 points had been reduced to 20 following discussions between the US and Ukraine at the end of last week in Miami.