Ukraine’s president says talking about polls is ‘irresponsible’ as the country battles a Russian invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says discussions over the fate of the planned 2024 elections are irresponsible as the country is locked in a war with invading Russian forces.
Zelensky said in a video address on Monday that Ukraine must remain focused on its military challenges and united.
“We all understand that now, in times of war, when there are many challenges, it is completely irresponsible to comment on topics related to elections in such a frivolous way,” Zelenskyy said.
“We must recognize that this is a time for defense, a time for struggle, on which the fate of the state and its people depends. … I believe an election is not appropriate at this time.”
Ukraine is currently under martial law as it battles Russian forces, which Kiev hopes to expel from its territory. But as the war continues, Zelensky has considered whether a special provision could be invoked to hold elections.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this weekend that the president is considering the positives and negatives of holding elections at a time when large parts of the country are still affected by fighting.
As Ukraine struggles to retain the support of Western allies such as the United States, some, such as U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, have called for the election to go ahead as planned to demonstrate Ukraine’s commitment to democracy.
Zelenskiy also recently downplayed concerns that the war with Russia has reached an impasse.
“Time has passed, people are tired,…. but this is not a stalemate,” Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Kiev on Saturday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“None of our partners is putting pressure on us to sit down with Russia, talk to the country and give it something,” he added.