President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he is prepared to stand for a second term if the presidential election takes place before the end of the war with Russia. In an interview with NBC News on 18 October, he linked this decision to his responsibility to defend the country and stated that a full ceasefire lasting at least 60 days would be a condition for standing for election.
Briefly about the main points
- Zelenskyy has indicated that he may stand for re-election as president.
- He described security as a key prerequisite for organising the vote.
- A ceasefire should allow time for legislative and organisational changes.
- Martial law prohibits the holding of elections in Ukraine.
- The Kremlin had previously rejected the proposal for a short-term ceasefire.
The statement referred to a possible scenario, not the start of the campaign
In response to a question from an American television channel about a possible re-nomination, Zelensky He said that if elections were to be held during the war, it would be his responsibility. The President explained that he considers it his duty to defend Ukraine from the start of the Russian invasion until the end of the war.
His remarks do not constitute an announcement of the start of an election campaign. He was referring to a hypothetical scenario in which presidential elections would be held before peace is established.
A ceasefire and secure infrastructure are required for the vote to take place
Zelenskyy stated that if Washington and Moscow are insisting on elections before the war ends; first and foremost, the fighting must be brought to a halt. He proposed at least 60 days of a complete ceasefire.
In the President’s view, Ukraine could use this time to prepare the necessary legislative changes and security infrastructure. He also emphasised that the vote must be fair and accessible to all citizens, particularly members of the armed forces.
Zelenskyy has dismissed claims that he is not interested in the elections. According to him, the decision on who will lead the country should be made solely by the citizens of Ukraine.
Martial law and voter access remain legal and practical barriers
Article 19 of the Law «On the Legal Regime of Martial Law» prohibits the holding of presidential, parliamentary and local elections whilst martial law is in force. The next presidential election was due to take place in the spring of 2024, but it was not held due to the full-scale Russian invasion and the imposition of martial law.
The organisers of the vote will have to ensure that military personnel on the front line, Ukrainians abroad, internally displaced persons and residents of areas affected by hostilities are able to exercise their right to vote. A separate challenge is protecting polling stations from Russian missile and drone attacks.
The Kremlin has rejected a previous proposal for a two-month ceasefire
Zelenskyy had already set out this condition on 11 October in an interview with ABC News, stating his willingness to organise elections provided there was a full two-month ceasefire. The following day, the Russian President’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said that Moscow was allegedly interested not in a short-term ceasefire, but in a comprehensive peace agreement.
As of 18 October, the date of the presidential election in Ukraine has not been set, and no decision has been taken to hold it.
