Elections during the war: Zelensky shifts discussion from dates to security guarantees
26 December 2025 16:58
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly outlined the conditions under which elections or a national referendum can be held in Ukraine. The key thesis is that security is the number one prerequisite, and international partners must ensure it. This was reported by Ukrinform, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The statement was made against the backdrop of an intensified discussion about the elections, initiated, according to the president, by the United States. At the same time, a special group has already begun working in the Verkhovna Rada to prepare legislative changes for elections in wartime or post-war periods.
The issue of elections in Ukraine is one of the most sensitive since the beginning of the full-scale war
On the one hand, there is the Constitution and democratic standards. On the other hand, there is martial law, millions of IDPs, occupied territories, and the constant threat of missile attacks.
Zelenskyy actually rejects the logic of “let’s just set a date,” emphasizing that without security guarantees, elections can become not a manifestation of democracy, but an imitation of it or even a tool of destabilization.
What the President says
The President has clearly set the accents:
- “Legislative issues are secondary and can be resolved by amending laws.
- Security is a key condition without which elections or referendums are impossible.
- Zelenskyy believes that Western partners have enough leverage to:
- either force Russia to stop threats,
- or agree on a secure infrastructure for voting.
Separately, the president reminded that his peace plan provides for the possibility of a referendum on “sensitive issues” that cannot be resolved by one official.
What is happening in the parliament
The Verkhovna Rada has already begun work on drafting legislation for elections during or after the war.
The working group is analyzing
- the state of the electoral infrastructure
- readiness of communities;
- mechanisms to counter external interference.
The head of the committee, Olena Shulyak, speaks directly about the high risk of Russian influence through cyberattacks, disinformation, bribery of voters, and financing of loyal politicians. According to her, the experience of Georgia and Romania shows what this can lead to, and in Ukraine, the scale of threats will be much greater.
The audit of the Civil Network OPORA only strengthens the arguments of skeptics.
Only 3 out of 11 communities surveyed potentially meet the basic security criteria. None of the communities has full provision of shelters for polling stations. More than 50% of the electoral infrastructure in the frontline and de-occupied communities is destroyed or damaged. Alert systems often work only partially.
Several scenarios are possible
Elections after a peace agreement, with a long transition period to restore infrastructure.
A referendum in conjunction with the elections, if required by the ratification of an international agreement.
Further postponement if the security situation remains unstable.
