Over 130 civil society organizations in Ukraine have issued a joint statement saying it is impossible to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in the country while Russia’s war of aggression continues.
The NGOs referenced Ukraine’s constitution, which prohibits elections during martial law, a measure that has been in effect since the full-scale conflict broke out in 2022.
They also highlighted the lack of legal provisions to ensure voter participation during wartime, including secure voting methods for citizens in conflict zones and for the over 6 million Ukrainians displaced by the conflict.
The statement follows recent criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who chastised Kyiv for failing to hold elections and labelled Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator.”
Before the war, Ukraine was on track to hold elections in spring 2024, but this was postponed after martial law was introduced.
“The legitimacy of the Ukrainian government is the exclusive prerogative of the Ukrainian people,” the statement from the Ukrainian NGOs read.
The statement added that elections should only take place after a stable ceasefire is in place, supported by security guarantees and adequate preparations, including the restoration of key infrastructure.
Zelenskyy’s administration has pledged to hold elections “immediately” after the war ends, which would also allow soldiers and refugees to participate in the ballot.
“The Ukrainian consensus on elections no earlier than six months after the end of martial law is supported by the authorities, the opposition, and society,” the NGOs concluded.
Almost three years into the war, Russia controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, making it virtually impossible to set up polling stations or ensure fair participation in occupied regions.
They also highlighted the lack of legal provisions to ensure voter participation during wartime, including secure voting methods for citizens in conflict zones and for the over 6 million Ukrainians displaced by the conflict.
The statement follows recent criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who chastised Kyiv for failing to hold elections and labelled Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator.”
Before the war, Ukraine was on track to hold elections in spring 2024, but this was postponed after martial law was introduced.
“The legitimacy of the Ukrainian government is the exclusive prerogative of the Ukrainian people,” the statement from the Ukrainian NGOs read.
The statement added that elections should only take place after a stable ceasefire is in place, supported by security guarantees and adequate preparations, including the restoration of key infrastructure.
Zelenskyy’s administration has pledged to hold elections “immediately” after the war ends, which would also allow soldiers and refugees to participate in the ballot.
“The Ukrainian consensus on elections no earlier than six months after the end of martial law is supported by the authorities, the opposition, and society,” the NGOs concluded.
Almost three years into the war, Russia controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, making it virtually impossible to set up polling stations or ensure fair participation in occupied regions.
Zelenskyy Ukraine’s most popular politician
Meanwhile, a recent poll shows Zelenskyy’s popularity has risen following Russia’s full-scale invasion, with more than 63% of Ukrainians saying they approve of the Ukrainian president’s war-time leadership.
The survey was published on Wednesday, shortly after Trump made an unsubstantiated claim that Zelenskyy has a mere “4% approval rating.”
According to the poll, 26.1% of Ukrainians said they fully approve of Zelenskyy’s presidency, while 36.9% said they tend to approve.
This marks a notable increase in his approval ratings compared to earlier polls conducted before Russia’s invasion and in the spring of 2024.
However, 14.4% of respondents said they fully disapprove of Zelenskyy’s actions, while 18.3% expressed a more moderate disapproval.
In terms of personal attributes, the poll revealed that 73% of respondents consider Zelenskyy an “intelligent person,” while 63% describe him as a “strong leader.”
The survey also suggests that between 26% and 32% of Ukrainians are prepared to vote for Zelenskyy in the first round of the presidential election.
The poll was conducted by the Identity and Borders in Flux (IBIF) project, in partnership with the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) and involved 1,600 respondents between November 2024 and January 2025.
An earlier poll by KIIS had shown that as of February, around 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelenskyy, an increase of five percentage points since December.
The survey was published on Wednesday, shortly after Trump made an unsubstantiated claim that Zelenskyy has a mere “4% approval rating.”
According to the poll, 26.1% of Ukrainians said they fully approve of Zelenskyy’s presidency, while 36.9% said they tend to approve.
This marks a notable increase in his approval ratings compared to earlier polls conducted before Russia’s invasion and in the spring of 2024.
However, 14.4% of respondents said they fully disapprove of Zelenskyy’s actions, while 18.3% expressed a more moderate disapproval.
In terms of personal attributes, the poll revealed that 73% of respondents consider Zelenskyy an “intelligent person,” while 63% describe him as a “strong leader.”
The survey also suggests that between 26% and 32% of Ukrainians are prepared to vote for Zelenskyy in the first round of the presidential election.
The poll was conducted by the Identity and Borders in Flux (IBIF) project, in partnership with the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) and involved 1,600 respondents between November 2024 and January 2025.
An earlier poll by KIIS had shown that as of February, around 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelenskyy, an increase of five percentage points since December.
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