Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that holding presidential elections during the ongoing war with Russia would 'split' the country. In a recent interview, he emphasized that elections cannot be held under martial law, which remains in effect due to the Russian invasion.
Zelensky's comments come amid discussions about the possibility of elections in 2024, despite the constitutional prohibition on elections during martial law. He argued that organizing a fair vote while millions of citizens are displaced, serving in the military, or living under occupation is impossible.
The president also noted that international partners have expressed understanding of the situation, and that Ukraine's focus remains on defense and resilience. He stressed that the priority is to win the war and ensure the country's sovereignty, after which democratic processes can resume.
Critics have raised concerns about the delay, but Zelensky insists that holding elections now would only benefit Russia by creating internal instability. The Ukrainian constitution and election laws explicitly ban elections during martial law, which has been extended multiple times since February 2022.
