Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukrainians in an address that it is “absolutely irresponsible” to consider the country’s presidential elections amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Zelensky’s presidential term is set to end in 2024.
“Now everyone should think about defending our country. We need to pull ourselves together, avoid unwinding and splitting up into disputes or other priorities,” Zelensky said, according to a translation by Ukrinform. “If there is no victory, there will be no country. Our victory is possible. It will come if we all focus on it. Not on politicking or searching for some personal interest. Not on disagreements that will do nothing for the country, defense, and our advancement.”
“Everyone should remember what is most important in Ukraine right now. The enemy is insane. And it is powerful. And it wants to destroy Ukraine, just as it has always wanted to,” Zelensky stated.
He noted that “when there are so many challenges” in war, “it is absolutely irresponsible to throw the topic of elections into society in a lighthearted and playful way.”
“I believe that now is not the right time for elections,” he emphasized. “And if we need to put an end to a political dispute and continue to work in unity, there are structures in the state that are capable of putting an end to it and giving society all the necessary answers.”
In August, Zelenskey said that he would be open to holding a presidential election if the country was not responsible for the cost.
“I told [Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)]: If the United States and Europe give us financial support … I’m sorry, I will not hold elections on credit, I will not take money from weapons and give it to elections either,” Zelensky said at the time, according to Breitbart. “But if you give me this financial support, if the parliamentarians realize that we need to do this, then let’s quickly change the legislation and, most importantly, let’s take risks together.”
“We need help from Europe here, because Ukrainians today are mostly in the European Union,” he continued. “Polling stations must be opened there so that people can come. 7 million people have to vote. We do not have such infrastructural capacities – we need to provide appropriate opportunities there.”
