Zelenskyy warns Russia will push voting for Ukrainians in occupied areas
Photo: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (GettyImages)
The Kremlin has already issued instructions to do everything possible to ensure that Ukrainians currently in Russia and in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories are able to vote in the upcoming presidential election. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this while answering journalists’ questions.
“This morning, I received an intelligence briefing from the Foreign Intelligence Service. Russia has already tasked itself with doing everything to make it possible for Ukrainians who are on Russian territory, as well as those in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, to vote,” Zelenskyy said.
According to him, the Kremlin’s goal is to convince everyone that a large number of people live in these territories and therefore have the right to vote, and then to later declare that Russia does not recognize the election results.
“Russia does not care how it delivers the message about the alleged illegitimacy of the Ukrainian government. Russia itself is illegitimate, and that is why it will continue pushing narratives about the illegitimacy of Ukraine’s authorities,” the president said.
Presidential elections in Ukraine
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready to hold elections provided that the United States and European partners assist with their organization.
This followed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who said that “the time has come for presidential elections” in Ukraine. In addition, the draft peace plan includes an 18th point stating that Ukraine should hold elections as soon as possible after a peace agreement is signed.
Previously, the Ukrainian leader urged members of parliament to develop possible legislative changes. On December 22, the head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, Davyd Arakhamia, announced the creation of a working group tasked with urgently addressing the possibility of holding presidential elections under martial law.
At the same time, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk stated that any new law regulating elections during wartime would be a one-time measure.
Meanwhile, the Central Election Commission has resumed operation of the automated “State Register of Voters” system in terms of interaction with citizens.
It recently became known that lawmakers have already begun working on election legislation. The working group includes more than 60 members.
More details can be found in the RBC-Ukraine article “Elections in Ukraine during wartime: what is being discussed and whether voting via Diia is possible.”
