Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he would organize elections immediately, but the war, legislation, and security risks make the vote impossible

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he would be ready to organize elections immediately, but the vote cannot take place as long as the war with Russia continues. In an interview with CBS cited by Ukrainska Pravda, the Ukrainian leader referred to the provisions of the Constitution, electoral legislation, and security risks.

Zelenskyy explained that holding elections is difficult in a country at war, where attacks continue and millions of citizens are outside the country. According to him, approximately nine million Ukrainians are abroad, and organizing and monitoring the vote for them raises significant issues. Other difficulties concern citizens in territories occupied by Russia, where the electoral process could not be controlled under safe conditions.

The Ukrainian president argued that a ceasefire could allow preparations for elections and help reduce tensions, but Russia allegedly rejected Kyiv's proposals in this regard.

The statements come after former Defense Minister Mihailo Fedorov called for preparations for elections to begin. Subsequently, his team clarified that he had not requested the immediate organization of the vote, but rather the resolution of the issues necessary for holding it.

Zelenskyy considers the idea of holding elections during the war to be misguided, stating that the priority is ending the conflict and protecting the population.