Can Ukraine hold elections?

Since Ukrainian cities are Russia almost every day, the idea of ​​holding elections may seem intricate.

But on the streets and offices of the Kiev capital prospect, when the country goes to the polls, again discussed.

Rumors of the elections came and went in three years of full -scale war in Russia.

Every time they were fired by the government, the opposition, and the public, arguing the unity against the Russian invader, should come first.

The presidential election, which took place in 2024, was suspended in accordance with martial law, which was introduced in Ukraine after a full -scale invasion of Russia two years earlier.

But this did not prevent Kremlin claim to the president of the Balladimir Zelensky, who is an illegitimate leader and demands new elections as the ceasefire conditions – a conversation repeated by President Trump.

Now there has been a fresh flurry that Zelensky could simply think if the ceasefire negotiations are ongoing, and some sources saying about the BBC believe there are reasons to think that elections can go at the end of this year.

The potential nearest competitor of the President Valery Zaluzhiy, a former commander of the Ukrainian army, felt the need to deny rumors about his intentions.

“My answer has not changed,” he said at RBC-Ukrain news agency. “While the war continues, we all need to work to save the country, don’t think about the election. I don’t comment on any rumors.”

The fact that the shy publicity of Zaluzhu is now the Ukrainian Ambassador to London, he found that the need to issue a statement by itself.

The head of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, Oleh Ddenka, also decided to speak publicly about speculation.

He said on the News Ukrainska Pravda News site will need to be changed before the election can take place. He said the current rules said that the parliamentary elections should be held 60 days after the cancellation of martial law and 90 days for the presidential election.

But it will take more time from the war, and it will require legal changes.

Last week, the economist claimed that Zelensky had a meeting to discuss the elections and instructed the staff to prepare for the vote as soon as the United States had forced Russia to accept the ceasefire, potentially on Easter.

This report denied several state sources.

“There’s fake information,” said one of the BBC News President. “There was no such meeting, and there was no such instruction.”

The source of the government stated that the main attention was the achievement of peace and little hope that the war ended Easter.

So, many public refusals, why do some still think that elections can be confused?

First, some sources point out that Zelensky’s support has risen since he was defeated by Donald Trump and Vice President J. D. Vens in the White House.

A poll by the International Institute of Sociology of Kiev (Kiis) in March suggested that the number of Ukrainians who trusted Zelensky increased by a couple of points by 69%.

Diplomats say the president may think that now his best chance to win a second term rather than waiting for political divisions after the war.

Secondly, having won the second term, Zelensky called Blef to Russia and strengthened his hand in any long-term peace talks. Last week, President Vladimir Putin said the United Nations should take over Ukraine and organize a “democratic presidential election”. His assumption – perhaps mistaken – is that Zelensky will be replaced.

Third, martial law should be updated by parliamentary vote in early May. Zelensky can use this schedule to declare martial law, will be allowed to take elections that take place later in the summer.

Fourth, the Americans are convinced of the election. Steve Vitkoff, a special envoy of President Trump, said Tucker Carlson Podcast on March 21: “They agreed. In Ukraine there will be elections.”

Zelensky can use this pressure from the United States – repeating Russian stories – as a reason, telling the voters that there is nothing left to hold the election.

By -fifth, some Ukrainian sources believe that logistics obstacles to the election can be overcome.

Millions of citizens are moved abroad, on the front line and in the occupied territories. The answer to this, says some, is to allow people to vote using an app for a smartphone called Diia. This contains the main documents of people, such as a passport, a ID and a driver’s license.

Using the dialog, some claim to allow people to vote quickly, cheaply and safely, without moving to the polling station abroad or in the trench. They note that the Ukrainians have successfully used this to vote at the Eurovision Song Contest. They also note that President Zelensky gave each Ukraine almost 20 pounds as a winter December in December, and many registered with it using Diia.

But there are many arguments against the elections.

The use of Diia will require new legislation that can fight to go through parliament. DIIA can be vulnerable to cyber-starts and technical failures. Western governments may not consider it reliable; Russia will definitely not.

Even if Diia was used, the definition of who could vote will still take time with incomplete and outdated registers.

Martial law removal during a temporary ceasefire can create unexpected consequences – including the flight of hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the front line – just as Russia has prepared a counterattack. Russia can apply voter queues at polling stations.

Any elections, which, however, will be held quickly, would be allowed to replace the unity of the war time with political lines. The elections would allow Russia to deploy digital and other propaganda to try to form the result.

The election may also be considered as accepting Russian arguments, that Volodimi Zelensky’s leadership is illegitimate from the suspended election last year.

Perhaps the strongest argument against the elections is that the Ukrainians themselves do not want them. In the same March, Kiis poll revealed about 78% of people who opposed the elections even after a complete settlement of the war.