---
title: "Zelensky names condition for holding elections in Ukraine: a ceasefire lasting several months"
description: "In an interview with CBS News, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that elections in Ukraine are possible only with a ceasefire lasting several months. He identified 9 million voters abroad and the residents of occupied territories as the key challenges."
date: 2026-09-16T08:34:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelensky-named-condition-for-elections-in-ukraine-ceasefire
tags: [ukraine, elections, zelensky, ceasefire, cbs-news, diaspora-voting, occupied-territories]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Zelensky names condition for holding elections in Ukraine: a ceasefire lasting several months

![Volodymyr Zelenskyy commenting on the condition for holding elections in Ukraine — a ceasefire](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/16/zelenskyi-umova-dlia-vyboriv-ukraini-perekynannia-ohnia/zelenskyi-umova-dlia-vyboriv-ukraini-perekynannia-ohnia-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Zelensky named a ceasefire lasting several months as a necessary condition for holding elections in Ukraine
- About 9 million Ukrainians are abroad, which is 18 times the pre-war figure of voters casting ballots overseas (500,000)
- The question of voting for residents of temporarily occupied territories remains unresolved
- The President confirmed that elections during active hostilities are impossible due to legislative and security restrictions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with CBS News, outlined the key conditions under which, in his view, elections could be held in the country. In his words, a necessary preliminary step is a ceasefire lasting several months — a period that could be used both to prepare the electoral process and to continue working toward ending the war. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a recording of the conversation.

### Why elections during active hostilities are impossible

Zelensky emphasized that organizing voting under conditions of active hostilities is impossible. He pointed to several factors: legislative restrictions in effect during wartime, as well as the safety of the voters themselves, the operation of polling stations, and the electoral process as a whole. The President noted that safe conditions for holding elections do not currently exist, and any attempts to organize them in the midst of hostilities carry serious risks for the state and its citizens.

### Nine million voters abroad: a new scale of challenge

A separate and, in the President's assessment, one of the most complex issues is the status of Ukrainians located outside the country. Zelensky estimated their number at approximately 9 million. For comparison, before the full-scale invasion, about 500,000 Ukrainians voted abroad during elections. Thus, the scale of the task has grown more than 18-fold, and organizing voting for such a number of citizens abroad will be a separate systemic challenge for the electoral infrastructure.

### The problem of temporarily occupied territories

Another unresolved issue concerns the residents of temporarily occupied territories. Zelensky acknowledged the need to determine whether these citizens will be able to participate in the elections and how voting can be ensured in areas where Russian military forces are present. At the time of the interview, no specific mechanisms for resolving this problem had been announced.

### Contradictory data

Ukrainian media outlets (RBC-Ukraine, 24tv, Dialog) unanimously present Zelensky's position as an evolution: he previously categorically opposed holding elections directly during an active war, and now he allows for such a process following a temporary ceasefire. At the same time, a number of Russian state media outlets (in particular, mk.ru) interpret the same statements by Zelensky in the context of a "failure of the victory plan," which is editorial framing not supported by the content of the CBS News interview itself. In the text of the conversation with the American television channel, the President did not use the wording about the "failure" of any plan, limiting himself to outlining the conditions for future elections.

Thus, Kyiv's position remains consistent: elections are possible, but only with a sustained ceasefire, sufficient time for preparation, and the resolution of logistical issues involving millions of voters abroad and in occupied territories.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Zelensky names condition for holding elections in Ukraine](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zelenskiy-nazvav-umovu-provedennya-viboriv-1789547419.html) - Основной источник: передача интервью CBS News с указанием 9 млн за рубежом, 500 тыс. до войны, условием прекращения огня
- ["They want to engage in politics": Zelensky calls calls to hold elections during the war a mistake](https://24tv.ua/ru/vybory-ukraine-vremja-vojny-nevozmozhny-zelenskij-srazu-zhe-nazval_n3143298) - Подтверждает позицию Зеленского о невозможности выборов во время активных боевых действий
- [Zelensky explains why elections in Ukraine are impossible](https://www.dialog.ua/ukraine/zelenskiy-obyasnil-pochemu-vybory-v-ukraine-nevozmozhny.html) - Дополнительное подтверждение аргументации о законодательных и безопасностных ограничениях
- [Zelensky officially admits that his "victory plan" has failed](https://www.mk.ru/politics/2026/09/16/zelenskiy-oficialno-priznal-chto-ego-plan-pobedy-provalilsya.html) - Российское госСМИ; формулировка 'провал плана победы' не подтверждается текстом интервью CBS News; отражено в блоке противоречий

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What condition did Zelensky name as necessary for holding elections?
**A:** The President stated that elections are possible on the condition of a ceasefire lasting several months, which would provide time to prepare the electoral process and work toward ending the war.

### Q: How many Ukrainians are currently abroad?
**A:** According to Zelensky's estimate, about 9 million Ukrainians are outside the country. Before the full-scale invasion, about 500,000 people voted abroad.

### Q: Can residents of occupied territories vote?
**A:** Zelensky acknowledged that this question remains open: it is necessary to determine whether these citizens will be able to participate in the elections and how to ensure voting in areas where Russian military forces are present.

### Q: Why, according to Zelensky, are elections during the war impossible?
**A:** The President pointed to wartime legislative restrictions, as well as to the safety of voters, the operation of polling stations, and the entire electoral process.