Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he intends to remain in office until the war with Russia is over, arguing that holding a national election now would tear the country apart, according to Clarin.com.
Speaking on Sunday, August 23, Zelensky described the prospect of calling a vote during the ongoing invasion as a "tsunami" that would destabilize the nation. He rejected the idea of elections while the conflict continues, warning they could split Ukraine in two, as reported by Infobae and La Nación.
Zelensky's comments come amid growing domestic and international pressure over the absence of elections since martial law was imposed following Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukraine's constitution prohibits elections during martial law, but critics have increasingly questioned the indefinite extension of his mandate.
The president's stance has drawn scrutiny beyond the election issue. A former minister dismissed by Zelensky told the BBC that the president should be asked what he knows about corruption within his own government. The dismissal of Ukraine's defense minister was also recently addressed by Zelensky, who revealed new details about that decision, according to Cadena 3 Argentina.
The combination of wartime leadership, postponed elections, and internal government changes has created a delicate political environment in Kyiv. Zelensky maintains that national unity is paramount and that any electoral contest now would benefit Russia by dividing Ukrainian society.
What to watch next: Whether international allies increase pressure on Kyiv to set a post-war election timeline, and how Zelensky responds to the corruption allegations raised by his former minister.
