Zelensky warns: Lifting martial law could risk Ukrainian defense
- We all would like the war to end so that we can hold presidential elections, - said Volodymyr Zelensky. In an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, he explained why they cannot be scheduled earlier. - If martial law is suspended, we will lose the army - he argued.
In the media and political sphere, the question of when presidential elections will be held in Ukraine keeps resurfacing. Zelensky's term formally ends on 20th May 2024. However, it has been repeatedly emphasised that both Ukrainian society and the government itself do not wish for elections during the ongoing war.
Let us recall that last week, a special envoy of President Donald Trump for Ukraine and Russia, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, suggested that the USA wants Ukraine to hold elections by the end of the year. The condition is a prior ceasefire with Russia.
These words were harshly criticised by the Ukrainian president’s advisor on communication, Dmytro Litvin, as well as the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova.
In a recent interview with Ukrainska Pravda, Volodymyr Zelensky himself addressed this issue. He emphasised that if martial law is suspended before the end of the war to conduct elections, Ukraine would lose its army, and the Russians would take advantage of this.
- We all want the war to end so we can hold elections. However, during the war, our compatriots are against elections because everyone understands the implications - he remarked.
The Ukrainian leader noted that in order to organise and conduct presidential elections, martial law must first be lifted or suspended. This is precisely what Putin and the Kremlin are waiting for. In such circumstances, soldiers would return from the front, mobilisation would cease, and "people would lose their resolve to continue fighting."
- If we suspend martial law, we will lose the army, and we will also lose morale. And basically, the Russians will be satisfied. People will return home and will have every right to do so. And Russia will surely use this opportunity for counter-offensive actions - Zelensky emphasised.
He once again highlighted the difficulties associated with voting in occupied territories, as well as the millions of Ukrainians forced to remain abroad.
- You will see, if elections are held and those people who cannot vote abroad or in temporarily occupied territories are excluded, then Russia will say: "We do not recognise these elections." Although I am not interested in their opinion, they will say: "These elections were illegal." - How can people vote fairly in temporarily occupied territories controlled by Russians? It will be a referendum much like the one in Crimea - under the threat of arms. This is what the Russians desire; this would lead to total destabilisation in Ukraine. Hence, I would be very cautious on this matter - emphasised the Ukrainian leader.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda/OSW/WP
