KYIV, Ukraine (AP) 鈥� Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected suggestions that he is using the war as an excuse to cling to power, saying he is ready to hold elections if the U.S. and other allies will help ensure the security of the poll and if the country’s electoral law can be altered.
Zelenskyy鈥檚 five-year term was scheduled to end in May 2024, but elections were legally put off due to Russia鈥檚 . That has become with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has criticized the delay as he pushes Zelenskyy to accept his
Zelenskyy responded to that criticism on Tuesday, saying he was ready for elections.
鈥淢oreover, I am now asking 鈥� and I am stating this openly 鈥� for the United States, possibly together with our European colleagues, to help me ensure security for holding elections,鈥� he told reporters on WhatsApp. 鈥淎nd then, within the next 60鈥�90 days, Ukraine will be ready to hold them.鈥�
Until now, to hold an election until a ceasefire is declared, in line with Ukrainian law that prevents a poll from being held when martial law is in effect. Ukrainians largely support that decision.
Here is a look at why Ukraine has not been able to hold elections so far:
A wartime election would be illegal
Ukraine has been under martial law since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion. The country鈥檚 constitution provides for martial law in wartime, and a separate law bars the holding of elections while it remains in force.
Beyond being illegal, any nationwide vote would pose serious security risks as Russia bombs Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones. With roughly one-fifth of the country under Russian occupation and millions of Ukrainians displaced abroad, organizing a nationwide ballot is also widely seen as logistically impossible.
It would also be difficult to find a way for Ukrainian soldiers on the front line to cast their votes.
Although Zelenskyy鈥檚 term formally expired in May 2024, Ukraine’s constitution allows him to legitimately remain in office until a newly elected president is sworn in.
What Trump said
In an interview with Politico published on Tuesday, said it was time for Ukraine to hold elections.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e using war not to hold an election, but, uh, I would think the Ukrainian people … should have that choice. And maybe Zelenskyy would win. I don鈥檛 know who would win.
鈥淏ut they haven鈥檛 had an election in a long time. You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it鈥檚 not a democracy anymore.鈥�
on elections echo Moscow’s stance. The Kremlin has used Zelenskyy鈥檚 remaining in power after his expired term as a tool to cast him as an illegitimate leader.
What Zelenskyy said
Zelenskyy reiterated previous statements that the decision about when to hold elections was one for the Ukrainian people, not its international allies.
The first question, he said, is whether an election could be held securely while Ukraine is under attack from Russia. But in the event that the U.S. and other allies can guarantee the security of the poll, Zelenskyy said he is asking lawmakers to propose legal changes that would allow elections to be held under martial law.
鈥淚鈥檝e heard it suggested that we鈥檙e clinging to power, or that I鈥檓 personally holding on to the president鈥檚 seat, that I鈥檓 clinging to it, and that this is supposedly why the war is not ending. This, frankly, is a completely absurd story.鈥�
Zelenskyy has few political rivals
Holding elections in the middle of a war would also sow division in Ukrainian society at a time when the country should be united against Russia, Zelenskyy has said.
One potential candidate who could challenge Zelenskyy in an election is former army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the current Ukrainian ambassador to Britain. Zaluzhnyi has denied plans to enter politics, though public opinion surveys show him as a potential Zelenskyy rival.
Petro Poroshenko also is a key political rival of Zelenskyy鈥檚 and the leader of the largest opposition party. He is unlikely to run again, analysts said, but his backing of a particular candidate would be consequential.
___
Follow AP鈥檚 coverage of the war in Ukraine at
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
