Zelensky confirmed he is ready to hold elections if allied nations, including Europe and the United States, guarantee security, following Donald Trump's accusation that Ukraine is using the war as an excuse not to hold elections.
On Wednesday, 10 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, announced that Ukraine is ready to hold new elections after U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that Ukraine is using the war as an excuse to avoid holding elections.
Zelensky’s five-year presidential term should have ended in May 2024, but Ukraine’s elections have been suspended since martial law was declared after Russia launched a full-scale invasion in late February 2022.
Trump discussed the Ukrainian elections during an interview with Politico, expressing his views on various issues, especially the Ukraine war.
Zelensky spoke to the media after Trump’s interview was released, saying that elections could be held within 60 to 90 days if security for voting is guaranteed with the help of the U.S. and other allies, and that he would request drafting proposals to amend the law accordingly.
“I am currently requesting, and I say openly, that the U.S. assist me, possibly together with our European colleagues, to guarantee security for the elections,” Zelensky said.
“I believe that the issue of elections in Ukraine depends primarily on our people, and this is a question for the Ukrainian people, not for people of other countries, with all due respect to our allies.”
“I have heard implied statements that we are clinging to power, or that I am clinging to the presidency... and that this is why the war is not over,” Zelensky added. “This is a completely baseless narrative.”
The issue of elections in Ukraine has become a continuous point of attack by Russia against Ukrainian leadership, claiming Zelensky is an illegitimate leader since his term ended and demanding new elections as one of the conditions for a ceasefire agreement.
However, it is expected that holding elections amid wartime will face many obstacles, such as frontline soldiers possibly being unable to vote or needing permission to leave duty to vote, and any voting process would require complex additional security measures.
Opposition members of Ukraine’s parliament told BBC that such voting would only be fair if all Ukrainians, including soldiers fighting on the front lines, are able to participate.
Lesia Vasylenko from the Golos party also told BBC World Service’s Newsday program that “elections are never possible during wartime,” citing the suspension of elections in the United Kingdom during World War II.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:bbc