Holding election in wartime would risk destroying Ukraine, says Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls to hold elections during the ongoing war, warning that doing so would split the country and act as a 'tsunami' for the state. He emphasized that his priority remains ending the war and preserving national independence.
Why it matters
The debate over wartime elections touches on the tension between democratic processes and national security during an existential conflict.
Zelenskyy during the national anthem at the start of a veterans forum in Kyiv on Saturday. Zelenskyy during the national anthem at the start of a veterans forum in Kyiv on Saturday. Ukraine Holding election in wartime would risk destroying Ukraine, says Zelenskyy President sharply criticises proposal, saying ‘elections right now are a tsunami for the state that will split Ukraine’
Prefer the Guardian on Google Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said holding elections in Ukraine during wartime would risk splitting the country at a time when Russia is amassing ballistic missiles and considering whether to mobilise an extra 300,000 soldiers.
The Ukrainian president, responding for the first time to a demand made by the sacked former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, sharply criticised an idea that he said was impractical given Russia appeared to have no interest in a ceasefire.
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