President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is willing to hold elections in Ukraine, responding to demands from Moscow and Washington, if security for the voting can be assured. He mentioned a possible time frame of two to three months for this process. However, elections are currently banned due to martial law, which has been in place since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Russia has questioned Zelenskiy’s legitimacy since his term ends in May 2024, complicating peace negotiations.
Fighting continues across Ukraine, with attacks disrupting electricity and targeting cities far from the frontlines. Many Ukrainians oppose holding elections during the war, according to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko stated that an air ceasefire would be essential to consider a vote. Additionally, a new legislative framework for elections would need to be created, taking around six months.
There are logistical challenges for Ukrainian voters, especially for the over 4.3 million Ukrainians currently in the European Union, requiring polling stations to be set up abroad. Millions are internally displaced, and registering them would require significant time and resources. Approximately 4.5 million Ukrainians live in Russian-occupied areas, complicating voter registration further.
Zelenskiy has a good chance of reelection, with a drop in his popularity from about 90 percent to the mid-50s range due to a corruption scandal. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi is viewed as a potential serious challenger but has not declared political ambitions yet, emphasizing the need to focus on the war.
With information from Reuters
