Prompted by US, Zelenskyy asks MPs to draft wartime election legislation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that following signals from the United States, he has asked members of parliament to draft legislative amendments that would enable elections to be held under martial law.
Source: Zelenskyy during a meeting with journalists in Kyiv, as reported by European Pravda
Detail: Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine's partners, specifically the United States, have repeatedly raised the need to hold elections.
"The US president has said that everyone wants to end the war and that it cannot be that Ukrainians will delay this by supposedly holding on to one position or other. And therefore I am, of course, in favour of elections," the Ukrainian leader said.
He stressed that if elections are held, they must be legitimate, and partner support will be required: "If our partners can help us organise the electoral process safely and within a reasonable timeframe, I will support it."
Zelenskyy said that in response to these "signals" from the US, he has asked MPs to draft legislative amendments that would allow elections to be held during wartime.
Quote: "So that this is not just a media signal from me, I have asked members of the Ukrainian Parliament to prepare legislative amendments enabling elections to be held during martial law. Today, it is important to end the war, and to end it from a position of strength for Ukraine. There has been a signal from the United States regarding elections – I have responded, and I am ready for this."
Detail: Zelenskyy stressed that there are two important issues that must be worked out: security and legislation. Therefore, he has called on Ukraine's key partners and Ukrainian MPs "to show how both of these issues can be addressed".
Background:
- In a recent interview with Politico, US President Donald Trump said "it's time" for presidential elections in Ukraine.
- In response to Trump's comments, the EU said that Zelenskyy is Ukraine's democratically elected president and the next presidential election should be held when conditions allow.
- Zelenskyy responded to Trump while on a visit to Italy, saying that he is ready to hold elections.
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