Ukraine’s president links elections to US security assurances amid Trump pressure
Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated on Tuesday, December 9, that he is prepared to organize presidential elections within 60–90 days, but only if the United States and Kyiv’s other allies can provide the necessary security assurances for the electoral process.
The statement is a direct response to increasingly intense pressure from President Donald Trump, who is publicly pressing Ukraine to hasten the conclusion of a peace deal with Russia, Reuters notes.
"I am ready for elections, and moreover, I ask that the US, perhaps together with European colleagues, help me ensure the security of these elections. And then, in the next 60–90 days, Ukraine will be ready to organize a ballot," Zelensky said.
Under Ukrainian law, elections are strictly prohibited for the duration of the country's martial law, which has been in force since the 2022 Russian invasion. Zelensky's presidential mandate technically expired in May 2024, but the constitutional ban meant the ballot could not be organized due to the ongoing war.
The Ukrainian President's declarations follow an interview where Donald Trump suggested that authorities were deliberately using the war as a pretext to avoid new elections. "They talk about democracy, but at some point, it's no longer about democracy," Trump asserted. Zelensky rejected this accusation, calling it "totally inadequate."
The logistical and security challenges remain immense. Ukraine continues to face frequent air attacks, has one million troops engaged on the front lines, and millions of displaced citizens. Critically, the Russian occupation of about 20% of the country's territory raises major security and legal problems for voting, particularly for citizens in occupied regions and near the front line.
Against this backdrop, Zelensky announced he will ask the Ukrainian Parliament (Rada) to prepare legislative proposals that would explicitly allow elections to be organized under martial law conditions, contingent on the security situation permitting.
What Ukrainian Polls Say
According to recent surveys, the majority of Ukrainians oppose organizing presidential elections during the war. However, at the same time, many also express a desire for changes in the political class, which has remained largely the same since the last general elections.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
