Ukrainians' attitude to elections during war – Poll findings
Photo: Ukrainians support post-war elections (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Most Ukrainians—more than 59% of respondents—believe that elections are possible only after a final peace agreement and a complete end to the war, according to poll findings from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).
The poll findings indicate that only 10% of Ukrainians believe that elections should be held before a ceasefire, down slightly from 11% in September.
Meanwhile, 23% support holding elections in the event of a ceasefire, provided there are security guarantees. Analysts note an upward trend in this figure, which rose from 9% in March to 23% in December.
At the same time, the majority—59%—continue to insist that elections are possible only after a final peace agreement and the end of the war. In September, 63% of respondents supported holding elections only after hostilities had ended.
Graph 1. Imagine that a ceasefire really takes place and Ukraine receives reliable security guarantees: more weapons, peacekeepers from a European country, etc. Should Ukraine then hold national elections after that?
Preparation for elections in Ukraine
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to initiate elections, subject to the support from the US and European partners.
Ukrainian leader stated that, amid remarks by US President Donald Trump about the need for presidential elections in Ukraine, and the draft peace plan provisions stipulating that the elections be held after the signing of a relevant agreement.
Zelenskyy also addressed the Verkhovna Rada, urging it to prepare the necessary legislative changes. On December 22, Ukraine's Parliament established a working group to assess the feasibility of holding elections under martial law. Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk stressed that such a law would be a one-time measure.
