Ukrainian parliament forming working group on possible wartime presidential election — Arakhamia

According to Arakhamia, discussions will involve members of the Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on State Power Organization, Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning. The group will also include representatives from all parliamentary factions and groups, the Central Election Commission, and civil society organizations focused on election issues, he added.

He noted that the date and time of the meeting would be announced soon and that journalists would be invited to attend.

Elections in Ukraine during wartime — what’s known

On Dec. 9, U.S. President Donald Trump told Politico that Ukraine should hold presidential elections and said current President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could potentially win another term.

On Dec. 18, Zelenskyy responded by saying he was ready to hold a presidential vote if Washington requests it. However, he added that elections for parliament and local councils are not currently on the agenda.

Ukrainian media reported that the Verkhovna Rada is preparing to establish a working group to draft legislation enabling wartime elections. The group is expected to be led by First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniyenko.

On Dec. 19, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said during a televised Q&A that Russia was “ready to consider security” during Ukrainian elections and “might refrain from strikes deep into Ukraine’s territory.” Zelenskyy responded by saying Ukraine would never accept “anyone trying to control us.”