On December 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the country is prepared to hold elections within the next 60–90 days, provided that the United States and Europe guarantee security. “I am ready for a new election,” Zelensky said, signaling a shift from his previous position.
Zelensky had repeatedly insisted that elections could only take place once the conflict with Russia ended and emphasized that voting is prohibited under Ukraine’s martial law. Analysts believe his change of stance is part of Kyiv’s negotiation strategy, aimed at persuading Washington to provide stronger security guarantees. Zelensky defeated former president Petro Poroshenko in 2019, winning a five-year term. During the last two years of his term, Ukraine plunged into conflict with Russia. He declared nationwide martial law on February 25, 2022—one day after the war began—and has extended it 17 times, most recently from November 5 to February 3, 2026.
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In theory, Zelensky’s term ended in May 2024, but Ukraine has not held elections due to legal restrictions that prohibit doing so under martial law. Furthermore, the country faces major challenges in guaranteeing a free, fair, and secure electoral process during wartime.
The Ukrainian constitution sets term limits but does not clearly address the status of the presidency under martial law. As a result, Zelensky remains in office until a new presidential election is held, sparking debate over his legitimacy.
By announcing his readiness for elections, Zelensky seeks to counter allegations that he is “clinging to power,” arguing instead that security concerns are the decisive factor. “I’ve heard rumors that I’m trying to hold on to the presidency. To be honest, that’s completely baseless,” he said. “But how can we organize elections when our army is still being attacked by missiles? How will they vote?”
Zelensky will ask Ukraine’s parliament to amend the legal framework to allow elections under martial law, stressing that this is “a matter for the Ukrainian people, not for other countries.” He added, “With all due respect to our partners, I want to make it clear that I am ready for elections.”
His remarks came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Zelensky in an interview published by Politico on the same day. Trump accused Kyiv of “exploiting the conflict” to avoid holding elections. “They talk about democracy, but at some point, there is no democracy left,” Trump said.
The U.S. president urged Kyiv to accept Washington’s proposed peace plan. The original version of the plan contains 28 points, mostly outlining conditions Ukraine would have to meet—including territorial concessions, refraining from joining NATO, holding elections within 100 days, and receiving “credible security guarantees.”
“Zelensky’s move is a direct response to this pressure,” analysts in Kyiv told EU Today. “By expressing readiness to hold elections but tying them to security guarantees that only the U.S., Europe, and Russia can realistically provide, he has cleverly pushed Washington to turn its pro-democracy rhetoric into concrete action.”
Political observers in Ukraine argue that Zelensky faces relatively low domestic political risk even if elections take place soon. If stakeholders fail to secure safe conditions for voting, he can argue that Ukraine showed willingness but was hindered by Russia or by partners unwilling to ensure security.
Conversely, if a temporary ceasefire were arranged to allow campaigning and voting, past conflicts suggest that wartime incumbents often hold an advantage. A poll by Kyiv-based Info Sapiens published on December 9 found that 20.3% of 1,000 respondents would vote for Zelensky if a presidential election were held today.
While not a high figure, it still places Zelensky as the leading candidate. Former commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, now Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.K., ranks second with 19.1%, up three points from October. Military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov is third with 5.1%.
About 23.6% of respondents said they were undecided or declined to reveal their choice.
When Zelensky took office after the 2019 election, his approval rating was as high as 80%. It dropped to 37% by February 2022, just before the war began. Following Russia’s invasion, his approval surged to nearly 90%.