Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a comment to the Italian publication La Repubblica during his visit to Italy, stated that he is ready to hold elections.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“I am always ready for elections,” Zelensky said as he left the hotel to head to Palazzo Chigi for a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Trump’s Statement on Elections in Ukraine
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, in a conversation with the publication Politico, again called for presidential elections to be held in Ukraine. He expressed the opinion that “they haven’t had elections in a long time” and suggested that the Ukrainian authorities “are using the war to avoid elections.” Trump also noted that under such conditions, “it is no longer democracy.”
Previously, Trump had made similar calls and even referred to Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator,” although he later did not repeat these statements.
Russia’s Position and Ukrainian Legislation
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and other representatives of the Russian Federation regularly claim the alleged illegitimacy of the Ukrainian authorities due to the absence of presidential elections in 2024. They assert that all civil authorities in Ukraine are illegitimate since the appointment of regional officials occurs by presidential decrees.
At the same time, the Constitution of Ukraine clearly prohibits holding elections during the state of martial law. Martial law was introduced following Russia’s large-scale invasion in 2022, and it remains in effect.