Is Ukraine considering holding an election amid war?

As Russian missile attacks continue to target Ukrainian cities, discussions about the possibility of a presidential election in Ukraine have resurfaced.

Although President Volodymyr Zelenskyy postponed the 2024 election under martial law provisions, recent developments have led to renewed debate on whether a vote could be held later this year.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, elections have been off the table, with Ukrainian leaders prioritising national defence over political campaigns. However, as ceasefire negotiations progress , there is growing international and domestic attention on Ukraine’s democratic process.

Some reports claim that Zelenskyy has considered calling an election once a ceasefire is in place, though his office has denied such claims. “There was no such meeting and no such instruction,” a presidential source told BBC News Ukrainian, dismissing the speculation.

Is Zelenskyy still the legitimate president of Ukraine?

The question of Zelenskyy’s legitimacy has been a key narrative in Russian propaganda, with the Kremlin insisting that his leadership is invalid due to the postponed elections.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed that the United Nations oversee a presidential election in Ukraine , suggesting that a new vote is essential for peace talks. This idea has been outright rejected by the United States and Ukrainian authorities.

United States President Donald Trump has taken a strong stance on the matter, criticising Zelenskyy for not holding elections .

In a February 19 post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden ‘like a fiddle.’ A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.”

Despite this criticism, the US government continues to recognise Zelenskyy as Ukraine’s legitimate leader while pointing out that elections should not be postponed indefinitely.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff reinforced Washington’s position in a March 21 episode of the Tucker Carlson podcast, stating, “They’ve agreed to it. There will be elections in Ukraine.” However, Zelenskyy’s administration has yet to confirm any concrete plans for a vote.

Is a war-time election possible to hold?

Conducting elections during wartime presents numerous legal and logistical challenges. Under Ukrainian law, presidential elections must be held 90 days after martial law is lifted, while parliamentary elections require a 60-day window.

With martial law still in effect, holding a vote would require legislative changes, which may be difficult to pass in the current environment.

Oleh Didenko, head of Ukraine’s Central Election Commission, told Ukrainska Pravda that any election would require significant preparation, particularly given the complexities of war.

Millions of Ukrainian citizens remain displaced — both within the country and abroad — while Russian-occupied territories pose additional challenges for organising free and fair elections.

Some Ukrainian officials have proposed using the Diia digital platform, a government-developed app that allows citizens to access official documents, reported BBC. Supporters argue that this system could enable displaced Ukrainians to vote securely without requiring physical polling stations.

However, experts warn that an electronic voting system could be vulnerable to cyberattacks and manipulation. Furthermore, Western allies may not recognise the legitimacy of elections held under such conditions, while Russia would likely reject any outcome that does not align with its interests.

Can Zelenskyy win again?

Despite the war, recent polling suggests that Zelenskyy’s approval rating has improved. A March survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 69 per cent of Ukrainians trust Zelenskyy, marking a slight increase from the previous month.

Some political analysts argue that Zelenskyy could benefit from calling an election while his approval remains strong, rather than waiting for potential political divisions to emerge post-war.

If an election were to take place, Zelenskyy could face competition from key political figures. Former army chief and current ambassador to the UK, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, has been widely discussed as a potential challenger.

Although he has repeatedly denied having political ambitions, his popularity remains high. “While the war continues, we all need to work to save the country, not think about elections,” Zaluzhnyi told RBC-Ukraine.

Another potential opponent is former President Petro Poroshenko, who has remained an influential political figure. While Poroshenko’s team has voiced opposition to holding an election during wartime, his experience and political base could position him as a strong contender if a vote were scheduled.

Additionally, reports indicate that Trump’s team has engaged in discussions with other Ukrainian opposition figures, including Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the Batkivshchyna party and a key figure in Ukraine’s political landscape for over two decades.

What does the Ukrainian public want?

Despite the mounting discussions, most Ukrainians do not support holding elections while the war is ongoing. The March KIIS poll revealed that approximately 78 per cent of Ukrainians oppose holding an election, even after a full resolution of the war. Many believe that political stability should take precedence until a sustainable peace agreement is reached.

Elina Beketova, a fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, spoke about the need for long-term planning before any elections take place. “We are talking about six to twelve months of preparation for the elections,” Beketova told Newsweek.

She stressed that a stable ceasefire, security guarantees from international allies, and logistical planning are all prerequisites for a legitimate election.

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There is also concern that lifting martial law prematurely could lead to unintended consequences.

Some military officials worry that an election campaign could disrupt wartime unity, while security experts warn that Russia could exploit the process through disinformation campaigns or direct military actions against polling stations.

For now, Ukraine’s immediate focus remains on securing a ceasefire and ensuring continued Western military support. With martial law set to be reviewed by Parliament on May 5, there is potential for election discussions to gain further traction.

With inputs from agencies