Holding elections in Ukraine while the war against Russia continues would be extremely risky, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. He said an election held at this time could split the country apart.
At a briefing with reporters Saturday, Zelensky said: “In a war like this, an election is itself a major risk. Right now, an election would be a kind of tsunami for Ukraine that would split the country apart.”
He further said: “If we want to destroy the country, we could go ahead and move toward an election in the middle of the war.”
Martial law has been in effect in Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion, under which elections have been suspended. Organizing an election amid the war carries numerous complications, including voting rights for soldiers, the votes of millions of Ukrainian refugees abroad, participation by people in Russian-occupied areas, and the risk of Russian disinformation.
Ukraine’s former defense minister, Mikhailo Fedorov, recently called for finding a way to organize an election, though he offered no detailed plan on the matter. Zelensky criticized that position, saying Fedorov is heading down “the wrong path,” or is being pushed down it.
According to one survey, only 15 percent of Ukrainians want an election held before the war ends.
Meanwhile, Russian missile and drone attacks continue across various Ukrainian cities, particularly the capital, Kyiv. Amid this situation, Zelensky sees the debate over elections as a risk of division for the country.
He said Ukrainian society and the military should not be split apart. In his words: “We have to acknowledge that this risk exists — the risk of heading toward a dangerous situation.”
Various international leaders are due to be present in Ukraine on Monday to mark the country’s independence day. Around the same time, allied nations are also expected to discuss further strengthening Ukraine’s air-defense system against Russian attacks.
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