Zelenskyy links elections in Ukraine to ceasefire and security conditions

“To hold elections, we need a security infrastructure. A ceasefire is necessary for elections,” Zelenskyy told journalists. “If there is a ceasefire, we are ready to hold elections.”

Zelenskyy said preparing for elections would require 60 to 90 days, though the timeframe could vary and would need to be agreed with international partners and with Russia, the aggressor state.

“The most important thing is the ability to hold legitimate elections and achieve a legitimate result,” the president said.

He added that parliamentary cooperation would also be required, including amendments to election-related legislation.

U.S. President Donald Trump, in an interview with Politico published Dec. 9, urged Ukraine to hold presidential elections and did not rule out Zelenskyy winning another term.

In response, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to discuss holding elections during wartime but stressed that major issues remain unresolved, including security guarantees, voting arrangements for military personnel, and a legal framework to ensure the legitimacy of the results.

Zelenskyy said he discussed the possibility of holding elections during the war with members of parliament, Dec. 10.

First Deputy Speaker of Ukraine’s parliament Oleksandr Korniienko said there are currently no legislative initiatives in the Verkhovna Rada to hold elections under wartime conditions, Dec. 11.

According to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology conducted from Nov. 26 to Dec. 13, 2025, only 9% of Ukrainians support holding elections before a ceasefire is reached.