(Reuters) – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Monday that discussing the possibility of holding an election in Ukraine during wartime is irresponsible. He called for unity to avoid engaging in pointless political discussions. Zelenskiy emphasized the need to focus on the country’s military challenges as it continues its efforts to remove Russian forces that have occupied nearly one-fifth of its territory for over 20 months following a full-scale invasion.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy stated, “We all understand that now, in wartime, when there are many challenges, it is utterly irresponsible to engage in topics related to an election in such a frivolous manner. We need to recognize that this is a time for defense, a time for battle, upon which the fate of the state and its people depend… I believe that elections are not appropriate at this time.”
Currently, elections are prohibited under martial law in Ukraine. However, Zelenskiy had been contemplating whether to invoke special provisions to organize them, which would require a change in the law and foreign assistance to finance the process. He previously expressed his interest in running for a second term if a vote were to take place.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned over the weekend that the president was evaluating the pros and cons of conducting an election during wartime.
Some individuals abroad, such as Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, have advocated for an election to proceed as evidence of the strength of Ukraine’s democratic institutions.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Chris Reese and Jonathan Oatis)
