Ukraine can hold vote if security is ensured: Zelenskiy
Ukrainian officials are expected to convey their final peace proposals to US negotiators, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Zelenskiy also says Ukraine will be ready for elections in three months if partners can guarantee a safe vote in wartime.
Zelenskiy responded to US President Donald Trump’s comments in which he questioned Ukraine’s democracy and claimed that the Ukrainian leader was using the war as an excuse not to hold an election.
Zelenskiy told reporters late Tuesday that he was “ready” for the election but would need help from the United States and possibly Europe to ensure its security.
He suggested that if this condition is met, Ukraine could be ready to vote in 60 to 90 days.
“In order for elections to be held, two issues must be addressed: first of all, security – how they will be held, how they will be held under attacks and missile attacks, and a question about our military – how they will vote,” Zelenskiy said. he said.
“The second issue is the legal framework required to ensure the legitimacy of the elections,” he said.
Zelenskiy had previously pointed out that the vote could not be held legally while martial law was in effect due to the Russian invasion nearly four years ago.
He also asked how the vote could be held when civilian areas of Ukraine were being bombed by Russia and almost 20 percent of the country was under Russian occupation.
Zelenskiy said he asked lawmakers from his parliamentary party to draft bills that would allow elections while Ukraine is under martial law.
Ukrainians generally supported Zelenskiy’s claims and there was no clamor for elections in Ukraine.
According to current Ukrainian law, Zelenskiy’s rule is legitimate.
But as Trump presses hard for a deal between Kiev and Moscow, Zelenskiy is walking a tightrope between defending Ukraine’s interests and showing the American president that he is willing to make some concessions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly complained that Zelenskiy cannot legitimately negotiate a peace deal due to the expiration of his five-year term, which began in 2019.
Trump echoed Moscow’s stance in an interview with Politico, saying, “I think this is an important time to make an election. They’re using war, not to make an election.”
The new US national security strategy, released last Friday, made clear that Trump wants to improve America’s relations with Moscow and “restore strategic stability with Russia.”
European allies are also portrayed as weak in the document.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday praised Trump’s role in Ukraine peace efforts and told the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament, that Moscow appreciates Trump’s “commitment to dialogue.”
Lavrov said Trump was “the only Western leader” who “understands the reasons that make the war in Ukraine inevitable.”
While Trump’s decisions are likely to be crucial for Ukraine, Washington’s peace efforts have run into starkly conflicting demands from Moscow and Kiev.
Trump’s first peace proposal was largely aimed at Russia’s demands.
To counter this, Zelenskiy turned to his European supporters.
