Elections in Ukraine postponed due to security

Elections and a referendum on peace: why they cannot be held simultaneously

The Ukrainian authorities considered holding elections simultaneously with a referendum on the peace plan. However, the current legal framework does not allow for such a scenario.

Legal restrictions, as well as the difficult security situation during a full-scale war, effectively block the possibility of simultaneously conducting two national processes.

Political pressure and the international context

According to the media, Donald Trump insists on holding elections in Ukraine next summer. One of the reasons cited is the start of the US congressional election campaign and the desire for certainty about the political situation in Ukraine.

At the same time, Kyiv acknowledges that it is virtually impossible to hold elections in the spring.

Security and lack of training

Among the key reasons for the delay:

• constant military threats and the risk of shelling;

• Lack of full preparation of the electoral infrastructure;

• the complexity of organising voting under martial law.

These factors make the conduct of democratic elections in a safe and legitimate manner extremely difficult.

Problems with the electorate

A separate challenge remains the participation of millions of citizens who are not eligible to vote:

• are staying abroad as refugees;

• are internally displaced persons;

• are serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Voter verification and ensuring their right to vote require complex organisational decisions and time.

Context.

The holding of elections under martial law remains a subject of political and legal debate both domestically and among international partners.

Ukraine emphasises that the key condition for the democratic process is the security of citizens and the possibility of fair voting, which is extremely difficult to ensure in the context of active hostilities.