New York, December 13, 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that Ukraine is prepared to hold national elections within 60 to 90 days, provided that the United States and European allies furnish security guarantees. This announcement directly counters allegations by former U.S. President Donald Trump who accused Kyiv of using the ongoing war as a pretext to postpone elections.
Zelensky’s statement, made on December 10, follows his five-year presidential term’s scheduled end in May 2024, which was extended under martial law after Russia’s invasion in 2022. Martial law legally suspends elections, complicating efforts for democratic renewal amidst conflict. The Ukrainian leader emphasized plans to pursue legislative amendments to permit voting and indicated intentions to submit a revised peace proposal to Washington soon, underscoring active diplomatic engagement.
Trump’s recent Politico interview on December 9 criticized Zelensky for allegedly leveraging the war to delay elections. This position echoes similar narratives promoted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy in peace negotiations. Trump’s push includes a US-inspired draft peace deal requiring elections within 100 days post-agreement, a demand somewhat softened by European counterparts to a less specific “as soon as possible” timeline.
Conducting elections during wartime presents considerable hurdles, including ensuring voter safety amid active conflict zones, providing access to displaced populations and frontline regions, and navigating restrictions on campaigning under martial law. These factors raise concerns about the feasibility and integrity of elections under such circumstances, yet their holding is also seen as a critical benchmark for progress toward peace and legitimacy.
Ukraine’s readiness to set an election timetable contingent on allied security underscores the delicate balance Kyiv seeks between internal democratic processes and external military-political realities. While elections could signal forward momentum in conflict resolution, ongoing hostilities and Russian challenges to Ukrainian governmental legitimacy remain significant obstacles.
The path forward involves continued complex diplomacy, with Zelensky’s proposal and security requests forming a core part of negotiations with Western partners. The unfolding situation will likely influence both Ukraine’s domestic political landscape and broader geopolitical dynamics in the region.