Ukraine must change laws for elections before war ends, analyst says
Photo: elections in Ukraine
Holding elections before the full conclusion of the war would require major changes to Ukrainian legislation, as well as significant financial resources and logistical efforts, said political scientist and international affairs expert Maksym Nesvitailov in a comment to RBC-Ukraine’s YouTube channel.
"We are talking about elections taking place before the war is fully over, before a peace agreement is signed, before security guarantees are provided. Essentially, this would require a complete change of Ukrainian legislation," Nesvitailov said.
According to him, elections cannot be held without lifting martial law, which would mean eliminating all security threats. However, the danger would not simply disappear, even if a ceasefire is in place and lasts for some time.
"We will need to announce the end of martial law, the demobilisation process, and a huge number of global processes. Completing all of this within six months would be extremely difficult," he added.
The expert also pointed out that many polling stations have been destroyed due to the war, and in some areas, local voter registries have also been destroyed. This would require an enormous effort to ensure proper election procedures.
"Not to mention the massive financial costs of organizing elections. To even stand a chance in a presidential race, a candidate would need to spend at least $50 million - realistically, closer to $100 million for a full campaign. Where presidential candidates will get these funds is a separate issue," Nesvitailov said.
Additionally, he warned that if elections are held before the war officially ended, Russia will be able to influence these elections.
"If they see things aren’t going their way, they could escalate aggression. And it would be harder to resist because Ukraine wouldn’t have a functioning government structure or a consolidated leadership," the expert said, adding that Russia could take advantage of the chaos.
Nesvitailov concluded that discussions about holding elections before the war ends seem superficial and driven by populism.
Elections in Ukraine
The Economist reported yesterday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had ordered the organisation of elections after a full ceasefire is reached. They could allegedly take place as early as July 2025.
The agency writes that the first confirmation of elections could come on or around 5 May, the deadline for parliament to vote on extending the martial law that expires on 8 May.
