The Ukrainian president told reporters his government could organize national elections within 60 to 90 days if Western partners guarantee safe conditions and Parliament revises wartime laws.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country is ready to hold elections within three months if the United States and Europe can guarantee the security necessary to conduct a national vote under wartime conditions. The statement came Tuesday following remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who questioned Ukraine’s democratic credentials and suggested that Kyiv was using the war as an excuse to delay elections.
“To hold elections, two issues must be addressed: primarily, security – how to conduct them, how to do it under strikes, under missile attacks; and a question regarding our military – how they would vote,” Zelenskyy told reporters. “And the second issue is the legislative framework required to ensure the legitimacy of elections.”
He noted that Ukraine’s current laws prohibit elections while martial law remains in effect, but said his party has begun drafting legal amendments to make balloting possible. Zelenskyy added that the government would also need foreign assistance to secure polling stations, protect civilians, and ensure fair participation by Ukrainians serving on the front lines.
Balancing Security and Legitimacy
Zelenskyy has long argued that conducting a vote during active conflict would endanger civilians and undermine the integrity of the process, given that roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory remains under Russian occupation and many regions are still under bombardment. Nevertheless, he indicated that Ukraine’s electoral commission could organize voting within 60 to 90 days if Western allies can guarantee safety.
Under current Ukrainian law, Zelenskyy’s tenure remains legitimate despite the lapse of his original five-year term, as elections cannot legally be held during wartime. Polls indicate broad domestic support for his position, with most Ukrainians opposing elections until security is restored.
The president’s latest remarks appeared designed to counter Trump’s criticism. “I think it’s an important time to hold an election. They’re using war not to hold an election,” Trump said in an interview with Politico, echoing a line frequently used by Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also argued that Zelenskyy’s expired term undermines his authority to negotiate peace.
A Shifting Diplomatic Landscape
Trump’s new national security strategy, released last week, signaled a policy shift aimed at “reestablishing strategic stability with Russia,” portraying European allies as weak and calling for renewed dialogue with Moscow. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday praised Trump’s initiative, calling him “the only Western leader” who shows “an understanding of the reasons that made war in Ukraine inevitable.”
Zelenskyy, walking a fine line between maintaining Western backing and responding to Trump’s demands for a peace deal, said Ukrainian officials would deliver their latest peace proposals to U.S. negotiators Wednesday. He confirmed that three key documents are under discussion: a 20-point framework for peace, a draft on security guarantees, and a recovery plan for postwar reconstruction.
Over the past week, Zelenskyy met with the leaders of Britain, Germany, and France in London, and later with NATO and European Union chiefs in Brussels before traveling to Rome for talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Leo XIV.
Declining Military Aid
Ukraine’s ability to sustain its defense remains uncertain as foreign military assistance wanes. According to new data from Germany’s Kiel Institute, international support for Kyiv has sharply declined since the Trump administration halted U.S. aid this year unless NATO partners covered the cost.
Between 2022 and 2024, Ukraine received an annual average of €41.6 billion ($48.4 billion) in foreign assistance, primarily from the U.S. and Europe. This year, that figure has fallen to €32.5 billion ($37.8 billion). If the current pace continues, the institute said, 2025 will mark “the lowest level of new aid allocations since the war began.”
While nations such as Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have boosted their contributions, others—including Spain and Italy—have cut or suspended new military aid.
Zelenskyy’s statement about elections underscores both Ukraine’s resilience and its precarious position. As pressure mounts from Washington for peace talks and from Moscow for legitimacy, Kyiv is attempting to signal openness to democratic renewal—without compromising security or sovereignty in a country still under siege.
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