Zelensky rejects calls for wartime elections in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing increasing domestic pressure to hold presidential elections following the expiration of his five-year term in May 2024. The debate has intensified following calls from former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who argues that democracy should not be held hostage by the ongoing Russian invasion.

Fedorov, who was recently dismissed from his post, has advocated for the development of a legal and safe mechanism to allow for democratic processes despite the conflict. Zelensky has rejected these calls, characterizing the move toward elections during wartime as a “tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine” and a potential threat to national security.

While Zelensky has maintained that holding elections under current conditions would be an existential risk, he noted he might be open to the process if specific conditions are met that allow for the participation of millions of displaced civilians and all military personnel.