The American president is putting pressure on and his Ukrainian counterpart is reacting: Volodymyr Zelensky surprisingly announced that he is ready for elections - despite the war that has been going on for almost four years. Trump has repeatedly called him a "dictator", since his term and that of the parliament expired in 2024. Until now, Kiev has insisted that there are no conditions for holding elections during the current martial law. That is why President Zelensky's reaction is quite surprising, points out the German public media ARD.
What does the law say?
Due to Russian aggression against Ukraine, martial law has been declared in the country. The martial law law prohibits holding presidential, parliamentary and local elections, and according to the Ukrainian constitution, parliamentary elections can only be held after martial law is lifted.
The martial law law can be changed by a decision of the parliament, but constitutional changes cannot be made during martial law. Given this legal framework, European partners accept that Zelensky is the president and remains in office for the time being.
Are there other arguments against holding elections now?
Yes, one of them is the lack of security - especially in areas close to the front. It is difficult to imagine placing ballot boxes on the front lines or opening polling stations under Russian shelling. The participation of several million Ukrainian citizens in the territories occupied by Russia is almost impossible. For millions of Ukrainian refugees abroad, voting would also be difficult - consulates would simply be overwhelmed, and voting by mail is not provided for in Ukrainian electoral law.
Ultimately, Russia would have to guarantee a military ceasefire for the campaign period and election day. However, Moscow has repeatedly stated that this is out of the question - it fears that this would give Ukraine the opportunity to regroup forces, which would allow it to continue the war.
Why is Zelensky even raising the topic of the election?
This is probably primarily a tactical move against Trump. In the negotiations on the American peace plan, the United States and Ukraine have serious differences on central issues such as security guarantees and territories. Therefore, Zelensky is making a concession to the White House on another issue: he is making it clear that he is not holding on tightly to his post. At the same time, the Ukrainian president is putting the ball back in Trump's court: he insists that elections are only possible if the US and Europe guarantee their security.
This is a very smart move on his part, writes ARD in a separate commentary on the topic: "If Zelensky really wanted to cement himself in power, he would have insisted on elections a long time ago. Because as long as the war continues, he has excellent chances of being re-elected. Ukrainians are known for quickly becoming disillusioned with their presidents. But during a war, things are different, because many believe that now, when they are faced with a massive external threat, they must unite," believes the author of the commentary, Florian Kellermann.
What procedure is Zelensky proposing?
Specifically, Zelensky has not presented a concept for holding elections during a war. Rather, he leaves the decision on whether to hold elections to parliament, thereby shifting the relevant responsibility to the legislature. And the faction of his party "Servants of the People" must prepare amendments to the legislation for the presidential and local elections. Currently, the law requires presidential elections to be held within 90 days of their scheduling, and for local elections this period is even shorter - 60 days. It is not certain whether a majority will gather for legal changes - against the backdrop of the latest corruption scandals, ARD emphasizes.
In a sense, the new situation will also be a test for Russia, Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Musienko said in an interview with ARD. He recalls that Russian President Vladimir Putin has always refused to agree to a ceasefire. However, now it is an absolutely necessary condition for holding elections in Ukraine.
Who can stand against Zelensky?
Almost no one in Ukraine believes that Putin will change his position. And even if he does, Zelensky is not taking any risks, says publicist Vitaly Portnikov. He believes that Zelensky's chances of being re-elected are greater now than after the eventual end of the war, including because during war there is no real competition between candidates.
"It is not clear who would even stand against Zelensky. Which politician would dare to sharply criticize the president, for example, for his foreign policy line," Portnikov asks rhetorically.
Polls show that more than half of the Ukrainian population continues to trust Zelensky. But on the other hand, an equally large portion of people in Ukraine believe that he should not run for president again when the war is over, the ARD publication also makes clear.