Ukraine Ready for Elections if Security Guaranteed, Zelensky Tells Allies Amid War Pressure

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the country is prepared to hold elections within the next 60 to 90 days, provided security for voters can be ensured with the support of the US and European partners. His comments come after US President Donald Trump suggested Kyiv was using the ongoing war with Russia to avoid holding a vote.

Speaking to reporters following Trump’s remarks in a Politico interview, Zelensky insisted that the decision to hold elections “depends first and foremost on our people,” dismissing suggestions that he is clinging to power. He called such narratives “completely unreasonable.”

Ukraine has not held presidential elections since martial law was declared following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Zelensky’s five-year term was set to end in May 2024, but wartime conditions have postponed the vote.

“I’m asking now, and I’m stating this openly, for the US to help me, perhaps together with our European colleagues, to ensure security for the elections,” Zelensky said, highlighting the complex challenges of conducting a vote during an active conflict.

Experts and opposition politicians in Ukraine stress the logistical difficulties of a wartime election. Soldiers on the front lines, millions of displaced citizens, and unsecured areas across the country would make it difficult to guarantee a free and fair vote. Opposition MP Oleksiy Goncharenko called the idea “completely impossible,” warning that an election under current conditions could favor Zelensky.

Public opinion also reflects caution. A recent poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that only 10% of Ukrainians support holding elections before a ceasefire or peace agreement. Most citizens believe voting should occur only after the conflict ends and security is assured.

Despite the pressures, Zelensky remains Ukraine’s most popular politician, with 22.3% support, followed closely by Gen. Valerii Zaluzhny at 21.3%. Former President Petro Poroshenko trails with 5.3%. Analysts argue that Zelensky’s focus is on maintaining stability while preventing elections from becoming a tool for Russia to destabilize the country internally.

The Kremlin welcomed Trump’s comments, suggesting they align with Moscow’s view on Ukraine’s territorial disputes, including claims over the Donbas region.

Zelensky’s position highlights the delicate balance Kyiv faces between demonstrating democratic legitimacy and ensuring citizen safety amid an ongoing war.