Translated with AI
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared his readiness to hold presidential elections under wartime conditions, provided a number of mandatory conditions are met. He made this statement on December 9 during a meeting with Ukrainian and foreign journalists, responding to US President Donald Trump's statement about the need to hold elections in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy emphasized that holding the vote is possible provided the country receives security guarantees. He stated that with such guarantees, the elections could take place within the next 60-90 days. He proposed ensuring the security of the electoral process with the assistance of the United States and European partners.
The Ukrainian President also noted the need to create a legislative framework to ensure the legitimacy of elections during martial law. In this regard, he announced that he had asked members of the Verkhovna Rada to draft amendments to the election law that would allow for voting to be held amid the ongoing conflict.
Earlier that day, US President Donald Trump stated that he believed it was "long overdue" for new presidential elections in Ukraine, noting that the Ukrainian authorities were allegedly using the war as a pretext for postponing them. He also suggested that Volodymyr Zelenskyy could win the election. A provision for holding elections after the war was also included in Trump's proposed peace plan.
Ukrainian law currently prohibits holding any elections under martial law. The imposition of a state of emergency following Russia's full-scale invasion led to the postponement of the next presidential election, scheduled for 2024. Russia has repeatedly used this to question Zelenskyy's legitimacy.
After Trump's second term in the United States began, discussions about holding elections in Ukraine resumed. However, Kyiv emphasized that holding a vote amid ongoing hostilities was impossible. In April 2025, the Verkhovna Rada denied reports of preparations for a presidential election.
