Zelensky Says Ukraine Is Ready for Elections if Security Guaranteed

Wed Dec 10 2025 11:30:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

President Volodymyr Zelensky asserts Ukraine is prepared to hold elections within 60 to 90 days, contingent on security assurances from the U.S. and allies, amid ongoing pressures regarding election timing during wartime.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine is ready for elections if security can be guaranteed by allies, particularly the U.S. This statement comes as elections have been suspended due to martial law following Russia's invasion. Zelensky emphasized that election decisions ultimately rest with the Ukrainian people despite external pressures insinuating he is clinging to power. The complex situation, including ongoing warfare and the necessity for all citizens to vote fairly, raises questions about the feasibility of conducting elections during wartime.

Ukraine is ready for elections, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, following remarks by US President Donald Trump, who claimed Kyiv was using war to postpone them. Zelensky's term as president is set to end in May 2024, but elections have been suspended since martial law was enacted with Russia's invasion.

Zelensky stated that with the right security measures in place, the elections could potentially happen in the next 60 to 90 days. He expressed the need for proposals to change existing laws to facilitate this and highlighted the role of the U.S. and European allies in providing security for this democratic process.

I'm asking now, and I'm stating this openly, for the US to help me, perhaps together with our European colleagues, to ensure security for the elections, he told reporters. He also reiterated that the matter of elections belongs to the people of Ukraine, despite ongoing claims from others suggesting he is attempting to hold onto power.

Meanwhile, discussions about the logistics of conducting elections during wartime remain a critical concern, with Ukrainian politicians emphasizing the necessity for all citizens, including soldiers and refugees, to participate in a fair election process.

The debate over holding elections has been ongoing since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, reflecting the complex dynamics of governance and democracy in a nation at war.