A new wave of debate has erupted in Ukrainian politics regarding the conduct of elections under martial law. The initiator of the discussion was former Ukrainian Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov, who publicly called for organizing voting despite the ongoing war. However, his proposal met with harsh criticism from the current authorities. A source in the Office of the President (OP) told BBC that planning elections amidst constant missile strikes and drone attacks is a "complete lack of realism".
Office of the President Position: Security Comes First
Vladimir Zelenskyy's team has taken a clear stance: talking about organizing voting under current conditions is unrealistic. As a source for the British channel reported, ensuring the security of the electoral process amid active combat operations and regular strikes on infrastructure is impossible. The OP emphasized that calls for elections now seem strange and indicate a misunderstanding of the real situation on the front and in the rear. In fact, the presidential administration has rejected the possibility of practically implementing such a scenario in the near future.
Fedorov's Arguments: Democracy Should Not Depend on War
Mykhailo Fedorov, who previously held the post of Minister of Defense, published a video address insisting on the necessity of holding elections even during a prolonged war. His main thesis is that democracy should not depend on whether Russia allows Ukraine to hold voting. According to the former minister, delaying the electoral process without clear deadlines threatens the legitimacy of power and the country's democratic institutions. Fedorov believes that Ukraine must demonstrate its ability to function as a sovereign state despite external aggression.
The Trump Factor and International Context
The actualization of the election topic is largely due to statements by US President Donald Trump. Last year, he emphasized that democracy "cannot exist without elections" and stated that Ukrainians must be given the opportunity to elect their leadership. This created additional pressure on Kyiv from Western partners expecting adherence to democratic procedures. However, the Ukrainian authorities, represented by Vladimir Zelenskyy, remain cautious: he declared readiness to hold elections, but subject to ensuring security and making necessary legislative changes.
Contradictory Data
There is a clear contradiction between the position of the former Defense Minister and the current presidential administration. On one hand, Mykhailo Fedorov insists that war should not be an excuse for canceling elections and calls for immediate organization of voting. On the other hand, the Office of the President considers this proposal unrealistic and dangerous amid active combat operations. Furthermore, there is a discrepancy in assessing the readiness of the legislative base: Zelenskyy mentions the need for changes in laws, while Fedorov calls for action without pointing to such obstacles.
Consequences for Domestic Politics
The debate over elections could become a catalyst for new political struggle in Ukraine. If Fedorov's proposal gains wide public support, it could create pressure on the current authorities and lead to a strategy review. However, if the OP maintains its position, this could intensify criticism of the government from the opposition and part of civil society. In any case, the topic of elections remains one of the most acute and sensitive in Ukrainian politics against the backdrop of war.
