It's one of Vladimir Putin's obsessions. The latest outburst from the Russian president regarding the supposed illegitimacy of his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, dates back to March 28. On that day, the Kremlin leader proposed the creation of a "temporary government" in Ukraine under the auspices of the United Nations, tasked with "hold[ing] democratic elections, to bring to power a viable government that enjoys the trust of the people." This was presented at the time as a necessary step to sign a peace agreement.
The statement did not surprise anyone in Kyiv, given the Russian president's habit of questioning Zelensky's legitimacy. His term, originally due to end in spring 2024, has been extended due to the wartime state of emergency. Some saw it as a way to buy time in the face of pressure from Donald Trump to resolve the conflict. Trump, who expressed his frustration with the Russian demand, simply rejected the proposal.
Nevertheless, the new American administration appears receptive to the Kremlin's arguments. In February, Trump referred to Zelensky as a "dictator without elections." Several of Trump's associates, like his special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, have spoken about the possibility of upcoming elections in Ukraine.
Resurgence of activism among some parties
While the war continues on the ground, the majority of the Ukrainian population opposes holding elections at this time – 62%, according to an Ipsos survey conducted between March 5 and 10 – believing that a call to the polls would deepen divisions and be difficult to organize in a country traversed by a frontline, with millions displaced. Yet, combined American and Russian pressure seems to have had an impact on the authorities. Ukrainian political experts have observed a resurgence of activism among some parties in anticipation of a hypothetical end to the war.
On March 30, several anonymous official sources, cited by The Economist, claimed that elections could be held this summer, provided a total ceasefire agreement can be reached in the coming weeks. The British weekly stated that Zelensky himself might have convened a government meeting to organize a ballot. On April 16, the vote in the Ukrainian parliament – its 15th since the start of the invasion – to extend martial law, which prohibits wartime elections, suggests that this plan might have been postponed. Kyiv MPs will be called to vote again on August 6.
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