Former defence chief urges Ukraine to schedule presidential election
The ousted defence minister says a new mandate is essential, even as martial law bars voting until it is lifted.
Ukraine’s former defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, has publicly urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to set a date for a presidential election despite the country remaining under martial law. Reznikov, who was dismissed from his post in September 2023 and succeeded by Rustem Umerov, argued that a fresh democratic mandate would strengthen the nation’s resolve as it continues to confront Russia’s invasion.
Since Russia’s large‑scale attack in February 2022, Ukraine has operated under martial law, a legal framework that suspends normal electoral processes. The wartime measure was intended to provide the government with the flexibility needed to respond to security threats, but it also means that the scheduled presidential vote, originally planned for early 2024, cannot proceed until the state of emergency is lifted.
In a televised interview, Reznikov emphasized that the war effort would benefit from a clear, democratically endorsed leadership. He suggested that Zelensky could announce a timeline for the election once key military objectives are achieved, allowing citizens to voice their confidence in the current administration or choose an alternative path.
Analysts note that while the call for an election aligns with Ukraine’s constitutional commitment to regular democratic turnover, practical considerations remain. Lifting martial law requires a formal assessment that the security situation has improved sufficiently, a decision that rests with the president and the parliament. Moreover, conducting a nationwide vote amid ongoing hostilities would pose significant logistical and safety challenges.
Zelensky has not yet responded publicly to Reznikov’s appeal, focusing instead on securing international support and advancing counter‑offensives. The debate over when to transition back to normal political processes continues to be a point of contention among Ukrainian officials, opposition figures, and Western allies monitoring the conflict’s trajectory.