Zelenskyy on the possibility of elections: «Russia will definitely use this for an offensive»

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, photo: Presidential Office

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that if martial law is lifted or suspended for the duration of the elections, the country faces the threat of losing its army in its current form.

He said this in an interview with the British broadcaster ITV News.

«During the war, everyone understands what will happen, what elections are. I am not afraid of them at all. It's just, what's going to happen? We have to end or suspend martial law. If we suspend martial law, we will lose the army. The Russians will be happy. It's a matter of combat capability, you lose your spirit. And legally, you cannot keep such an army. It's a fact, people will have every right to return home. And morally, even those who won't return, it's still a pause. Russia will definitely use it for offensive actions,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

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In addition, he said that it would be technically difficult to organise voting for the military on the front line, millions of Ukrainians abroad and in occupation. And without them, it would be unfair to hold elections, and Russia, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will promote statements that such elections will be illegitimate.

As a reminder, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that there is every opportunity to end the war in 2025, and US President Donald Trump also wants this.

At the same time, the United States is already negotiating a full-scale war with Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready to sit down with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin for peace, despite his hostile attitude.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to «allocate people» to negotiate with Ukraine to end the war and called any such talks «illegitimate».

US President Donald Trump is ready to significantly increase sanctions against Russia, even doubling them, to force Moscow to end its war against Ukraine.