Ukraine’s parliament has passed a resolution affirming the legitimacy of Volodymyr Zelenskyy as President and confirming that elections are not possible until after the war ends.
The resolution is a rebuff to US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who have both suggested Zelenskyy is illegitimate because he has not held elections during the war with Russia.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump questioned Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, claiming he had only 4% public support and calling him a “dictator without elections.”
On Monday, Putin said that Zelenskyy avoids talks with Russia because negotiations would likely lead to the swift end of martial law, removing the pretext for postponing elections.
This, he argues, would force Zelenskyy to hold an election immediately, something he seeks to avoid.
With 268 votes in favor, Ukraine’s parliament, known as the Verkhovna Rada, approved the resolution, declaring that Zelenskyy’s powers will continue until the end of martial law.
Twelve lawmakers abstained from the vote.
The resolution emphasised that Zelenskyy was elected in free, transparent, democratic elections, and his mandate is not questioned by the Ukrainian people and the Verkhovna Rada.
It also said that no elections can be held until the lifting of martial law.
Zelenskyy was elected in a landslide in 2019, but his term expired last May. Ukraine is under martial law which under its constitution forbids the holding of elections.
In the resolution, the Verkhovna Rada stated that the martial law in Ukraine introduced in the conditions of a “full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation does not allow for holding elections in accordance with the Constitution.”
Most Ukrainians, including major opposition parties, agree that holding credible elections now amidst the war is not possible because millions are abroad as refugees, hundreds of thousands are fighting.
An election could also be an opportunity for Russia to divide the country while it is trying to defend itself.
Members of parliament passed the resolution on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, in a second attempt, after an initial vote on Monday failed to achieve sufficient support.
The draft resolution in its first attempt on Monday received only 218 votes, short of the required 226.
The failure was attributed to the European Solidarity party, led by former President Petro Poroshenko.
However, on Tuesday, Poroshenko announced that his faction would no longer obstruct the adoption of “key defense and international legislation.”
Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament representing Zelenskyy’s party, told a news agency that Monday’s vote failed because too few of the President’s faction were present. “It was Monday, when many members of parliament hadn’t come from their districts yet,” he said.
By Tuesday, enough Members of Parliament were in attendance for the vote to pass comfortably.
Zelenskyy said on Sunday that he would step down if it meant peace for his country, adding he would also do so if it meant Ukraine would be granted NATO membership.
Elections To Be Announced After End Of War
Also, the resolution said that the presidential election of Ukraine will be announced after the end of the war and the establishment of a lasting peace.
It added that the Ukrainian people are united in the fact that such elections should be held after the end of the war.
“The Parliament … emphasises the need to comply with the principle of institutional continuity of power stipulated by the laws of Ukraine, especially under the legal regime of martial law, and emphasizes that President…
“Volodymyr Zelenskyy must exercise his powers until assuming the post of the newly-elected President of Ukraine in accordance with Part One of Article 108 of the Constitution of Ukraine.”
Ukraine’s parliament
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