UKRAINE: Are Elections Viable in War Time?

Lately, there’s been a lot of talk from the U.S. about Ukraine needing to hold presidential elections. Donald Trump even went so far as to call Zelenskyy a “dictator” for staying in power past his 2024 mandate. This has kicked off a debate about what democracy looks like during wartime and what’s really behind these calls for an election.  

In this post, I’ll break down why this argument doesn’t hold up, how war complicates the usual democratic process, and what’s actually at stake. We’ll also look at the key players in a future election and why Ukraine’s opposition recently met with Trump—what they’re after and how it could shake up Ukraine’s political future.

 

CAN'T HAVE ELECTIONS UNDER MARTIAL LAW

The first issue to address is that Ukraine is currently under martial law due to the war. This brings certain restrictions on movement, enforced curfews, and, as one podcaster put it, "democracy is on hold because we can’t do what we want, when we want." Unfortunately, this is the reality of war. Much like during the COVID-19 pandemic, some freedoms are temporarily curtailed to ensure society's safety and functionality. However, this does not mean the Ukrainian government has suddenly become dictatorial or harbors ill intentions toward its people. Rather, it is acting within the framework of the Ukrainian constitution and in accordance with the law.  

In such circumstances, holding elections is simply not feasible. First, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens are on the front lines—soldiers cannot abandon their positions to vote. Additionally, around seven million Ukrainians have taken refuge in other countries due to the war, and another twelve million are either in Russian-occupied territories or in Russia itself. These people would have no way to participate in an election.  

Considering that Ukraine's population was approximately 41 million in 2021, this means that if a presidential election were held today, about 30% of the population would be unable to vote. THAT is deeply unfair and fundamentally undemocratic!  

BUT! ZELENSKYY IS A DICTATOR WHO WANTS TO STAY IN POWER!

Let’s talk about this wild claim from former U.S. President Donald J. Trump. I mean, it’s just one of the many outrageous things he says on a daily basis—and, of course, he later denied it. But let’s be clear: Zelenskyy is not a dictator. In fact, he’s one of the greatest wartime leaders of our century.  

Why? First and foremost, he didn’t flee. Since 2022, he has remained in Kyiv—even when the city was under attack, even when he personally faced assassination threats, and even when he had the chance to leave. He stayed.  

Beyond that, Zelenskyy enjoys strong support from his constituents. Yes, his popularity has fluctuated in recent years—this is a normal trend for any leader—but overall, he remains widely respected, especially compared to other world leaders. Following the White House debacle, his approval rating jumped to 68%. Meanwhile, Trump is sinking in the polls as more Americans grow frustrated with his stance on Ukraine, his tariffs driving up prices, and his increasingly authoritarian rhetoric.  

And speaking of actual dictators, let’s not forget Trump’s good friend, the terrorist Vladimir Putin. He has clung to power since 2000—25 years and counting. Since launching his imperialist invasion, approximately 886,320 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded. In Russia, opposition leaders die from poisonings or mysteriously “fall” out of windows. In Ukraine, opposition leaders get invited to meet with Donald Trump.  

 

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy

UKRAINE'S OPPOSITION AND POTENTIAL ELECTION CANDIDATES

At the beginning of the month, it was revealed that four members of Trump’s administration had secret talks with Ukraine’s opposition. They primarily spoke with former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and members of former President Petro Poroshenko’s party. The main topic? Whether elections could be held quickly.  

However, both Tymoshenko and Poroshenko have come out in support of Zelenskyy, stating that holding elections right now—during wartime—is simply impossible.  

U.S. officials seem convinced that if an election were held today, Zelenskyy would lose. But here’s the thing—Zelenskyy has never even confirmed he would run again. If anything, he’s likely exhausted and dreaming of retiring to a peaceful dacha with his family. The most likely contender to win is former Ukrainian army commander Valery Zaluzhny, who currently leads Zelenskyy by more than 20 percentage points. He’s now working in Britain as an ambassador. Meanwhile, Poroshenko polls at around 10%, Tymoshenko at just 5%, and Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, has also thrown his hat in the ring, though his popularity sits between 4% and 5%.  

So, based on the numbers, the U.S. is backing the wrong candidates. If an election were held today and Zaluzhny won, Ukraine would actually end up with a more hawkish president than Zelenskyy. Zaluzhny is known for his tough stance against Russia, and there’s a strong chance he would push further with the war before even considering peace negotiations.  

Yulia Tymoshenko

WHAT IS USA PLAYING AT? 

My biggest question in all of this is—why is the U.S. pushing for elections in Ukraine? This reeks of a Kremlin-backed plot to install a more Kremlin-friendly regime in Kyiv. It has been clear since 2014, at the very start of this war, that this was one of Russia’s key objectives. So, it begs the question: is the U.S. in the Kremlin’s pocket? Because day after day, they seem to be doing things that benefit Russia while putting Ukraine in a weaker position.  

And then there’s Trump—an incompetent leader and an even worse negotiator. He claims to know "The Art of the Deal," yet he hands everything to Russia without demanding much, if anything, in return. Putin is playing him like a fiddle.  

At this point, you have to wonder—does Trump even want Ukraine to win? Or is he just another useful idiot in Putin’s long game? 

 

Former Ukrainian army commander, Valery Zaluzhny

 CONCLUSION 

Holding elections in Ukraine right now is simply impossible due to martial law. Around 30% of the population wouldn’t even be able to vote, and there’s no way to ensure safe elections while Russia continues its relentless bombing. The Americans need to seriously reconsider how much Russian propaganda they’re parroting—but let’s be real, they won’t.  

And even if elections were somehow held today, Putin wouldn’t get a puppet in Kyiv. Instead, he’d get his worst nightmare—Valery Zaluzhny. A man of integrity. A patriot. Someone who would fight for Ukraine’s best interests with unwavering determination. And if that means achieving victory on the battlefield rather than through empty negotiations, so be it.  

So, if the U.S. thinks they’re setting up a Kremlin-friendly government in Ukraine, they might want to check their chessboard—because the next move might be even less diplomacy than what Zelenskyy showed in the White House earlier. 

References

• The New York Times: Trump’s Attacks Give Zelensky a Bit of a Reprieve at Home
• Politico: Top Trump allies hold secret talks with Zelenskyy’s Ukrainian opponents
• The Kyiv Independent: Zelensky's approval rating jumps to 68% after Trump clash, poll shows
• Minfin: Casualties of the Russian troops in Ukraine