{"id":2519707,"date":"2025-12-10T14:41:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T19:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/zelenskys-ukrainian-election-proposal-requires-guarantees-of-security-and-legitimacy\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T14:44:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T19:44:09","slug":"zelenskys-ukrainian-election-proposal-requires-guarantees-of-security-and-legitimacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/zelenskys-ukrainian-election-proposal-requires-guarantees-of-security-and-legitimacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Zelensky&#8217;s Ukrainian election proposal requires guarantees of security and legitimacy"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fzelenskys-ukrainian-election-proposal-requires-guarantees-of-security-and-legitimacy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2519707&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >pursue legislation allowing national elections<\/a> to be held during the ongoing war, reversing his previous opposition. This move responds in part to U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s criticism of Ukraine for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/zelensky-spars-with-trump-after-he-blames-ukraine-for-war\/\" title=\"... spars with Trump after he blames ... for ...\">delaying elections amid<\/a> the conflict. Zelensky is seeking support from the United States to help ensure the elections&#8217; security and legitimacy, despite the challenges posed by martial law-which currently prohibits elections-and the ongoing Russian invasion.<\/p>\n<p>Organizing elections during wartime presents notable obstacles, including ensuring voter safety amid attacks and involving nearly one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pentagon-warns-congress-its-running-low-on-funds-to-replace-weapons-sent-to-ukraine\/\" title=\"Pentagon alerts Congress of insufficient funds for ... weapon replacements.\">million active military personnel<\/a> in the electoral process.Additionally, residents living under Russian occupation pose complications for election integrity.Digital voting could increase risks of foreign interference. Zelensky,whose term was extended due to the war,has indicated he may not run for a second term,focusing rather on ending the conflict. Polls show diminished but still leading support for him among Ukrainians. Meanwhile, Kremlin officials have not yet commented on zelensky&#8217;s election plans.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Zelensky&rsquo;s Ukrainian election proposal requires guarantees of security and legitimacy<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2424675\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Ukrainian President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/volodymyr-zelensky\/\">Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a> is willing to honor the White House&rsquo;s demands for a federal election, but the logistics of voting in wartime may prove difficult.<\/p>\n<p>Zelensky told reporters Tuesday that he will pursue legislation that will allow Ukraine to hold elections during wartime, reversing his long-standing opposition to the idea less than 24 hours after <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3911833\/ukraine-zelensky-trying-keep-us-peace-plan-alive\/\">President Donald Trump complained<\/a> about the lack of &ldquo;democracy&rdquo; in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-two-sides-of-the-withdraw-from-afghanistan-or-not-argument\/\" title=\"The Two Sides Of The \u2018Withdraw From Afghanistan Or Not?\u2019 Argument\">war-torn nation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3912924\/nobel-peace-prize-winner-machado-cancels-press-conference\/\">Nobel Peace Prize winner Machado cancels press conference day before award ceremony<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3912193\/sadiq-khan-responds-trump-dig-disaster\/\">Sadiq Khan responds to Trump dig that he&#8217;s a &#8216;disaster&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3911833\/ukraine-zelensky-trying-keep-us-peace-plan-alive\/\">Zelensky trying to keep US <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/zelensky-trying-to-keep-us-peace-plan-alive-as-trump-lambastes-ukraine-and-europe\/\" title=\"... trying to keep US peace plan alive as ... and Europe\">peace plan alive<\/a> as Trump lambastes Ukraine and Europe<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Look, I am ready for the elections, and not only that, I am now asking &mdash; and I am stating this openly &mdash; for the United States of America to help me,&rdquo; the Ukrainian president told the press, adding that he personally has &ldquo;the will and readiness to do so.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks back at the media on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, on Downing Street London. (AP Photo\/Kin Cheung)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Under the current structure of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ukraine\/\">Ukrainian Constitution<\/a>, elections are illegal during periods of martial law, which Zelensky instituted in 2022. A constitutional change will be required to allow citizens to vote on their next leader, with the Russian invasion ongoing.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In the next 60 [to] 90 days, Ukraine will be ready to hold an election,&rdquo; Zelensky predicted, explaining that he has tapped members of Parliament &ldquo;to prepare legislative proposals on the possibility of changing the legislative framework and the law on elections during martial law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I want and expect proposals from our partners and our MPs, and I am ready to go to the polls,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>His term was due to expire last year, but that was delayed due to the war.<\/p>\n<p>The drastic about-face on the issue seems to have been caused by Trump&rsquo;s complaint during an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/12\/09\/donald-trump-full-interview-transcript-00681693\">interview with <em>Politico<\/em><\/a>  published this week that Ukraine is &ldquo;using war not to hold an election.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it&rsquo;s not a democracy anymore,&rdquo; the U.S. president said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3911707\/trump-watched-venezuela-boat-strike-video-floats-further-action\/\">TRUMP SAYS HE WATCHED VENEZUELA BOAT STRIKE VIDEO AND FLOATS FURTHER ACTION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Organizing an election amid consistent bombings by the Kremlin, especially in the short time frame suggested by Zelensky, presents enormous hurdles.<\/p>\n<p>Douglas Klain, deputy director for policy and strategy at advocacy group Razom for Ukraine, told the&nbsp;<em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that &ldquo;safety and security&rdquo; for would-be voters and ensuring &ldquo;legitimacy&rdquo; are the most significant complications for the proposed elections.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A man casts his ballot at a polling station during a parliamentary election on Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Kyiv, Ukraine. The early parliamentary election ultimately resulted in the victory of President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Russian invasion has postponed all subsequent elections. (AP Photo\/Evgeniy Maloletka)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;There have been comparisons to the U.S. Civil War and how, here in the United States, we had elections during our Civil War,&rdquo; Klain told the <em>Washington<\/em> <em>Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;The Confederates could not drone strike a polling place in Boston &mdash; that is the case in Ukraine. And so polling places will be major targets for the Russians, should there still be a hot war and no ceasefire.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Klain pointed out that there are close to 1 million active members of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3909784\/ukraine-russia-attack-us-zelensky-call\/\">Ukrainian military<\/a>, the majority of whom are engaged in national defense operations that would make the ritual of casting a ballot a secondary priority.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They are a very important voice in Ukraine&rsquo;s political system right now and any election that isn&rsquo;t able to integrate their voice in that process &mdash; it&rsquo;s really going to suffer from a lack of legitimacy if they aren&rsquo;t included,&rdquo; Klain told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Another threat to a proposed election&rsquo;s legitimacy is the role of Ukrainian citizens who are now living under Russian occupation. Some of these people, scattered throughout disputed areas such as Donbas and Donetsk, have done their best to avoid absorption into <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia\/\">Russian society<\/a>, while others have accepted Russian passports and citizenship.<\/p>\n<p>Digital elections, which would allow easier participation across the board, would open up the possibility of outside tampering by the Russian government. <\/p>\n<p>Whether Zelensky will stand in the proposed election also remains to be clarified.<\/p>\n<p>Zelensky has consistently said he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/09\/25\/zelensky-elections-ukraine-axios-show\">does not intend to run<\/a> for a second term, but with the understanding that the next vote would come after the conflict had concluded.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;My goal is to finish the war,&rdquo; he said in September.<\/p>\n<p>A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/kyivindependent.com\/zelenskys-presidential-rating-drops-to-20-poll-shows\/\">poll from Info Sapiens<\/a>, conducted between Nov. 13 and Nov. 28 and published on Tuesday, shows only 20.3% of Ukrainians say they would vote for Zelensky following his government&rsquo;s corruption scandal. Still, he earned the most votes of any names included in the poll.<\/p>\n<p>Other names included in the poll were Valerii Zaluzhnya, Ukraine&rsquo;s ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine&rsquo;s military intelligence.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3912950\/trump-pressures-ukraine-to-accept-a-peace-deal-by-christmas\/\">HIS PATIENCE EXHAUSTED, TRUMP PRESSURES UKRAINE TO ACCEPT A PEACE DEAL BY CHRISTMAS, WARNING ZELENSKY &lsquo;HE&rsquo;S LOSING&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Zelensky&rsquo;s pivot to preparing for elections, saying officials &ldquo;haven&rsquo;t discussed it with anyone yet&rdquo; since &ldquo;the statement is quite recent.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is something Putin has been talking about for a long time,&rdquo; Peskov <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themoscowtimes.com\/2025\/12\/10\/kremlin-says-it-has-not-discussed-zelensky-election-comments-with-us-a91394\">told reporters<\/a> on Wednesday. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s something President Trump has mentioned recently, so we&rsquo;ll see how events unfold.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zelensky backs wartime elections but security is key<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2519708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25344390158357.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[64388,68590,8630],"class_list":["post-2519707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-security-guarantees","tag-ukrainian-election","tag-zelensky"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25344390158357.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2519707"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2519711,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519707\/revisions\/2519711"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2519708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2519707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2519707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2519707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}