Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has reaffirmed that national elections will only be held after a ceasefire with Russia and full security guarantees, pushing back at suggestions he might hold a vote amid ongoing conflict.
Speaking to journalists in Kyiv on Wednesday, Zelensky said the Ukrainian government had not initiated plans to call an election, and that discussions about timing were being driven by international partners rather than Kyiv itself. Under the country’s constitution, national elections cannot take place while martial law remains in effect, a status that has been in place since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Zelensky stressed that security must come first, then politics, saying in a voice note that “we will move to elections when all the necessary security guarantees are in place.” He added that the idea was simple: establish a ceasefire and then there will be elections noting that there has been no response from Moscow to ceasefire proposals so far.
His comments came as he pushed back against reports suggesting Ukraine could declare a presidential vote or peace referendum on February 24, the anniversary of the invasion. Zelensky dismissed those as “an utterly stupid idea,” saying the date should honor those who have defended the country and not be used for political announcements.
International pressure, including from the United States, has focused on finding a path to peace and potentially timing elections around any emerging ceasefire framework. Western officials have discussed the possibility of a peace deal by summer, but Zelensky reiterated that without security guarantees and a halt to hostilities, holding a free and fair election remains impossible.
Ukraine’s martial law extended regularly by parliament bans national voting while in force, and logistical obstacles compound the challenge. Millions of Ukrainians are displaced abroad or living under occupation, and ensuring their ability to vote is a major hurdle for election organizers.
Public sentiment reflects the complexity: a January survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found only about 10 percent of Ukrainians support elections before a ceasefire, with the majority saying voting should wait until after the war’s end.
For now, Zelensky’s position remains clear: no elections until peace and security are secured, a stance he says aligns with constitutional requirements and the practical realities of holding a national vote during active conflict.