Zelenski odbija poziv za predsjedničke izbore u vrijeme rata

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ruled out holding a presidential election during the ongoing war with Russia, warning that such a move would risk dividing the nation. The decision comes amid mounting pressure from former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who publicly urged the government to find a way to conduct elections while combat operations continue. Fedorov, who was dismissed from his post earlier this month, made the call during a surprise address last week, marking the first time a high-ranking Ukrainian official has advocated for wartime elections since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Since the start of the conflict, Ukraine has suspended national elections under martial law, a measure backed by the majority of the population. Polls show that over 57 percent of Ukrainians prefer to wait until the war ends before casting votes. Zelenskky, who won the 2019 presidential election in a landslide, has remained in power beyond his original five-year term due to the suspension of normal governance procedures. His leadership has been sustained through emergency measures, allowing the parliament and executive branch to function uninterrupted despite the ongoing hostilities. The logistical challenges of holding elections during the war are immense. Fighting persists along a front line spanning more than 1,200 kilometers, with Kyiv and other cities regularly targeted by Russian drones and missiles. Conducting a nationwide vote would require mobilizing millions of voters, including those displaced within Ukraine and those seeking refuge in the European Union. Over 4.4 million Ukrainians currently hold temporary protection status in the EU, necessitating the setup of hundreds of polling stations across multiple countries. Additionally, nearly four million Ukrainians remain internally displaced, complicating voter registration efforts. Those living under Russian occupation, estimated at around 4.5 million adults, are also excluded from the electoral process, as they are unable to participate in a vote held in liberated areas. Russia, which controls approximately 19 percent of Ukrainian territory, plans to hold its own elections in the occupied regions next month. Ukraine has condemned these elections as illegal, asserting that they violate international law and undermine the sovereignty of the Ukrainian state. Zelenskyy has previously expressed openness to the idea of wartime elections, contingent upon guarantees of security from Ukraine’s allies. However, no viable plan has yet been proposed to ensure the safety of voters, candidates, and election infrastructure amidst the ongoing conflict. The debate over wartime elections has gained renewed attention following Fedorov’s unexpected call for a vote. While he did not explicitly declare his candidacy, his remarks have raised questions about potential political challenges to Zelenskyy’s leadership. Fedorov, once a close ally and a key architect of Ukraine’s drone warfare strategy, has lost support among some of his former backers. His recent actions have prompted speculation about his intentions, though he has not clarified whether he intends to run for president in the future. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has focused on strengthening Ukraine’s defensive capabilities. During a recent meeting with European leaders in Kyiv, he announced a new drone procurement agreement with Norway, which includes a commitment of $12.5 billion in aid for Ukraine’s defense sector. The announcement came as Russian forces intensify their attacks, particularly with the use of long-range ballistic missiles that strain Ukraine’s air defenses. Despite these challenges, Zelenskyy emphasized recent territorial gains, noting that Ukrainian forces have nearly fully reclaimed the Dnipropetrovsk region, leaving only a small area under Russian control.