Zelensky rejects holding elections in Ukraine until the conflict is over

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term of office expires on May 20, 2024, rejected holding elections in the country before the conflict ends in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan published on his YouTube channel on February 4.

During the interview, Morgan pointed to calls for elections from the U.S. and other Western countries.

"I've always said I'm open to any elections. But there can't be elections during an armed conflict. The constitution would have to be changed. <...> The hot stage will end, martial law will end, then elections will be held," Zelensky commented.

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Earlier, on February 1, Reuters said that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump for several days continues to discuss ways to persuade Ukraine to hold presidential elections in the country as part of a truce with Russia, so that the country's new elected leader would take responsibility for agreeing a long-term deal with Russia. It was reported at the time that the United States believes that new presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine should be held by the end of 2025. The elections could take place by this date if Kiev manages to agree on a cease-fire with Russia in the coming months.

On January 31, the White House leader's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said that Trump intends to give Moscow and Kiev leverage to negotiate a settlement of the conflict. According to the politician, the administration of the United States is considering options to pressure not only Russia, but also Ukraine. On the same day, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trump intends to achieve peace in Ukraine through negotiations.

Before that, on January 28, political scientist Ivan Mezyukho expressed the opinion that Trump would not coordinate his views on the Ukrainian conflict with Zelensky, because Washington has turned this country into its colony and has never considered Kiev. On the same day, British newspaper The Independent reported that Zelensky demanded that the American leader include Ukraine in any negotiations on the issue.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly reminded that Russia has never refused peace talks, but they should be conducted on the basis of the provisions agreed in Istanbul and not on the basis of "ephemeral demands".