Zelenskyy ready to hold election but says Ukrainians oppose it as war rages on

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated his willingness to hold presidential elections in Ukraine, adding that most Ukrainians consider voting during a full-scale war "dangerous and meaningless".

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with the Associated Press (AP) on Thursday in Kharkiv

Quote from AP: "The war has also made it impossible to hold a presidential election in Ukraine, originally slated for March under the constitution, he [Zelenskyy] said.

Although Zelenskyy said he was ready to hold an election, most Ukrainians are not, believing such a vote to be 'dangerous and meaningless' as war rages around them."

Details: In addition, the AP emphasises that the question arises: how long will Zelenskyy himself be able to cope with being the leader of a country at war?

The news agency quoted Zelenskyy as saying he could not imagine leaving the office.

Quote: "You honestly can’t do that.

This would be very unfair, wrong and definitely demotivating."

For reference: The Constitution of Ukraine stipulates that the next parliamentary elections were to be held in the autumn of 2023 and the presidential elections are to take place in March 2024. However, Ukrainian law and the Constitution prohibit holding elections under martial law.

Background: In late October, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) released the results of a poll revealing that the vast majority of Ukrainians believe that nation-wide elections should be held once the war is over, as it is not the right time.

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