Zelensky Warns Wartime Elections Would Divide Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Sunday that holding elections during the war with Russia poses a major risk to the country and could divide society. Elections at this time would be a "tsunami" for Ukraine, he said.

"I believe that during such a war, elections in general are big risks. Elections right now are a tsunami for the state that will split Ukraine. Therefore, my strategy is to bring the country to the end of the war and preserve an independent and sovereign state", he said on the eve of Flag Day celebrations.

Zelensky said that about a year ago, several parties were pressuring Kyiv to organize elections even while the war was still ongoing. However, Western partners did not present a concrete plan that would ensure safe and democratic voting for soldiers, residents near the front lines, or the millions of Ukrainians living abroad, he said.

He identified the ongoing Russian attacks as a major obstacle, saying it is impossible to create safe conditions for voting until Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to a ceasefire.

Zelensky emphasized that his priority is to bring the country to the end of the war and preserve an independent and sovereign Ukraine. Last year, he also said that if the war is successfully ended, he is prepared not to run for another presidential term.

(Ukrainska Pravda, sab)