Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signaled a renewed push to prepare for national elections, even as his country remains locked in a grinding conflict with Russia and much of its territory under martial law. Speaking at a joint press conference with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on December 20, 2025, Zelensky revealed that Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun laying the groundwork for future elections, a move seen as both a practical and symbolic step toward upholding democratic norms amid war.
According to Reuters, Zelensky was unequivocal about the prerequisites for any election: "Organizing elections in Ukraine depends on two factors: security and legal framework." He underlined that Russia would have no say in when or how Ukraine’s elections are held. “Russia cannot decide when or how elections in Ukraine take place,” he stated, reinforcing his government’s insistence on sovereignty in political matters.
The president’s comments come at a particularly fraught time. His official term ended on May 20, 2024, but fresh elections were cancelled due to the imposition of martial law and a nationwide mobilization order. The ongoing war has left large swathes of Ukrainian territory under Russian occupation, raising thorny questions about the feasibility and fairness of any national vote.
Still, Zelensky has pressed ahead. On December 15, 2025, according to RBC-Ukraine, he asked Ukraine’s Parliament to draft legislation that would allow elections to proceed even under martial law. The proposed law would see elections held within 60 days—mirroring the timeline for early presidential elections. Yet, even among those working on the draft, doubts have surfaced about whether it’s wise or even possible to complete the process under current conditions.
Ukraine’s Parliament has shown some willingness to move forward. On December 11, 2025, Vice Chairman Oleksandr Korniyenko said Parliament was ready to prepare the necessary documents to enable a wartime presidential election. This echoes Zelensky’s own declaration on December 9, 2025, that he was prepared to amend existing laws to make a presidential election possible, despite the ongoing state of emergency.
One of the thorniest challenges is how to ensure that millions of Ukrainians displaced by war—either abroad or within the country—can exercise their right to vote. Zelensky acknowledged this complexity, noting, “There is a firm tradition of absentee voting abroad, which will be more complicated due to the large number of Ukrainians overseas, but this is the task of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The Ministry, he said, is already working with international partners to create a unified infrastructure outside Ukraine to facilitate absentee voting. “They are working with our partners abroad, and we need to agree on feasible infrastructure outside Ukraine to make absentee voting convenient,” Zelensky explained. The scale of this undertaking is unprecedented, given the sheer number of Ukrainian refugees and expatriates scattered across Europe and beyond since the Russian invasion began.
Yet, the president was clear about the limits of what’s possible. “Ukraine cannot hold elections in territories controlled by Russia,” he asserted, a point echoed by multiple Ukrainian and international sources. This restriction leaves millions in occupied regions disenfranchised for the time being—a bitter pill, but one Zelensky argues is necessary under the circumstances.
Security, of course, remains the paramount concern. "In any case, I believe that when elections are held—meaning when the security situation allows—a large number of Ukrainians will return to Ukraine," Zelensky said, expressing hope that a future vote could help reunite the country, at least symbolically. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that soldiers fighting on the front lines retain their right to vote: “It is essential that soldiers have the right to vote, just like any other citizen.”
The international community, and particularly the United States, has taken a keen interest in Ukraine’s electoral plans. Zelensky confirmed that American partners have raised the issue of elections, suggesting that a ceasefire or at least a pause in hostilities would be necessary to organize a safe and legitimate vote. “Our U.S. partners have raised the issue of elections, which means they understand how they can help us organize safe elections: first, possibly a ceasefire or an end to the conflict,” he said.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has continued to weigh in on foreign policy matters, recently called on Zelensky to accept a peace plan proposed by Washington and proceed with elections. According to Dân trí, Trump’s intervention focused on the presidential vote, with no mention of parliamentary or local contests. Zelensky, for his part, has made it clear that Ukraine is ready to proceed with elections, but only under two conditions: a ceasefire during the election period and a legal framework that permits such a vote. He has also called on the U.S. to pressure Russia to help create these conditions.
Behind the scenes, there’s a palpable sense of uncertainty. Even as Zelensky and his government push legislative and diplomatic levers, some lawmakers and officials have voiced skepticism about the practicality of holding elections while the country is under martial law and active military threat. As RBC-Ukraine reported, some involved in drafting the new election law have begun to question whether the project should even be completed.
For ordinary Ukrainians, the stakes are enormous. Elections are not just a procedural matter—they are a signal to the world that democracy endures, even under fire. Yet, for many, the prospect of voting seems distant. Those in Russian-occupied territories are effectively cut off from the process. For refugees and the internally displaced, logistical hurdles abound. And for soldiers on the front lines, the challenge is ensuring their voices are heard without compromising operational security.
Despite these obstacles, Zelensky’s administration appears committed to keeping the idea of elections alive. The move to develop absentee voting infrastructure and to seek international support for safe polling conditions is a testament to that resolve. Whether these preparations will translate into an actual vote anytime soon remains an open question—one that hinges on both the battlefield and the negotiating table.
As Ukraine stands at a crossroads, the push for elections has become a focal point for debates about sovereignty, legitimacy, and the future of democracy in a nation under siege. The coming months will reveal whether these efforts bear fruit—or whether, as some lawmakers fear, the realities of war will once again delay the fundamental act of choosing a leader.
