The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has reiterated his outright rejection of calling elections while the war with Russia continues, considering that elections under the current circumstances would only generate an internal fracture and, ultimately, a political "tsunami" that would sweep away the State and the attempts to maintain national cohesion.
The Ukrainian leader already spoke on this issue about a year ago, but the debate has returned to the public scene after the former Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, a figure with great influence, especially among the youth, joined the voices calling for going to the polls. Fedorov was dismissed by Zelensky last July, a decision that triggered several citizen mobilizations against him.
In relation to these protests, Zelensky emphasized this Sunday that the right to protest is still fully guaranteed in Ukraine. "The State, in my opinion, has demonstrated that this freedom exists," he pointed out, referring precisely to those marches.
"But, right now, we cannot divide the country into factions," insisted the head of State, according to statements collected by Ukrinform. "Elections, right now, would represent a tsunami that would divide Ukraine. My strategy is twofold: to end the war and preserve an independent and sovereign State. And I am implementing it," he emphasized.
Zelensky pointed out that, for the moment, he has no concrete proposal on the table, neither from within nor from outside, detailing how to organize elections safely, considering that "Russia is not even contemplating" a cessation of hostilities. "What is essential right now is to preserve Ukraine and I believe we cannot separate society from the soldiers," he stated.
The president only contemplates holding elections in an extraordinary scenario: "Without attacks or bombings, where military personnel could vote, where people at the front could vote and the millions of citizens who have fled the war abroad. In that case, we could address the issue," he explained. Until those conditions are met, he rules out calling for elections.