Zelenskyy: Voting impossible in occupied Ukrainian territories
Photo: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (president.gov.ua)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a joint press briefing in Kyiv with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, said that elections will not be held in Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by Russia.
Zelenskyy stressed that it is impossible to ensure a fair and democratic electoral process in territories not controlled by Ukraine. According to him, Russia traditionally announces the result it wants in advance and only afterward “counts the votes,” making genuine elections impossible.
“Elections cannot be held in territories not controlled by Ukraine, which are temporarily occupied. It is clear how they would be conducted — the way Russia always does it. It first announces the result, even in its own domestic elections, and only then counts the votes,” Zelenskyy said.
Speaking more broadly about future elections in Ukraine, the president emphasized that two key issues remain decisive: security and legislation. He noted that while legislative changes during wartime are theoretically possible, security concerns are the primary and overriding factor.
Elections in Ukraine: what is known
US President Donald Trump has made harsh statements about Ukraine, claiming that the absence of elections allegedly indicates the country has lost its democratic status. In doing so, he echoed narratives actively promoted by Russia, framing the war as a reason to delay voting.
At the same time, holding presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine under martial law is currently practically impossible due to constant shelling and serious security threats. For the same reasons, the regular local elections scheduled for October 26 did not take place.
President Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized that Ukraine is technically ready to organize elections, but that voting is only possible after hostilities end or if credible security guarantees are in place. Under such conditions, he said, organizing elections could take between 60 and 90 days.
Zelenskyy is also awaiting proposals from the Verkhovna Rada on possible legislative changes, since Ukraine’s Constitution explicitly bans elections during martial law.
Meanwhile, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has claimed he would “consider” providing security guarantees for a possible vote, while simultaneously setting conditions regarding the participation of residents of Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories.
