President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that elections without the participation of the military, Ukrainians from the occupied territories and those abroad would not be fair.
The Head of State said this in an interview with The Guardian, Ukrinform reports.
“It is very important that [US President Donald Trump’s Special Representative for Ukraine and Russia Keith] Kellogg comes to Ukraine. Then he will understand our people, our circumstances, understand what is happening, and see the attitude of Ukrainians towards the elections. This is not just a matter of legislation or the Constitution. That is also important, but that is not the point. I think he should go and ask people himself, anyone – civilians, at the front, everywhere. He will hear that people do not understand how this can be done during the war. After all, this is a matter of security and justice for the military. It is important that they vote because they protect us. It is very difficult with people who are in the occupied territories. Not giving them the opportunity (to vote) sends a signal that we are without them. This is a signal to them – Melitopol, Berdiansk, Mariupol. We also need to address the issue of eight million people who are abroad,” Zelensky said.
At the same time, he noted that this position does not mean that the elections will take place “when we solve all the issues, in twenty years.” “No. But we can’t shout loudly without solving anything: we want elections!” the President said.
He added that Ukrainians perceive the idea of elections “as a shock, and do not understand why we are being offered this.”
When asked by a journalist whether Zelensky would run in the election, he replied: “I don’t know. I don’t know how this war will end.”
As Ukrinform reported earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a joint interview with First Lady Olena Zelenska that the main condition for holding elections is the end of martial law in Ukraine.
Source: Zelensky: Elections unfair without military, TOT Ukrainians, and those abroad
