Politics · Other · 6 hrs ago
Zelensky says Ukraine would need six months to prepare elections after war
Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine needs six months after the war ends to prepare and hold elections.
He gave the timeframe in an interview with NBC News, amid calls from US President Donald Trump for Ukraine to change its leadership.
Zelensky said the time would allow the government to adapt election laws and prepare security measures.
Those preparations would help ensure that soldiers serving at the front can vote.
Ukraine did not hold elections in 2024, when Zelensky’s term ended, because martial law is in force and the law bars voting under those conditions.
Zelensky has also said Ukraine could hold elections after a 60-day ceasefire, but the immediate proposal he described was six months of preparation after the war.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would need six months after the war ends to prepare for and hold elections.
He said the period would allow authorities to adapt laws and prepare security measures.
Zelensky said the preparations should enable voting by Ukrainians serving on the front line.
He has also said Ukraine could hold elections after a 60-day ceasefire, while another outlet reported he said he could do so after 60 days of a complete halt to fighting.
Ukraine’s presidential elections were not held in 2024 while martial law was in force, according to the articles.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- What
- He said Ukraine would need six months after the war ends to prepare for and hold elections.
- When
- He made the statement in an interview with NBC News, reported on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Ukraine.
- Why
- The time would allow authorities to adapt laws and prepare security measures, including arrangements for soldiers to vote.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Zelensky’s term in office officially ended, and elections were not held under martial law, according to versia.ru.
Trump said Ukraine had reached the time to change its president, according to Ведомости.
Zelensky said holding elections during fighting was difficult and that Ukraine would hold them if Russia agreed to a 60-day ceasefire, according to Ведомости.
Zelensky told NBC News Ukraine would need six months after the war ends to prepare for elections.
- Preparation period
- Six months after the war ends
- Interview outlet
- NBC News
- Election security
- Measures to allow soldiers at the front to vote
- Zelensky’s term end date
- May 20, 2024
- Conditional shorter timetable
- 60 days, if Russia agrees to a ceasefire
3 sources
What people are saying
We will need half a year, half a year after this war ends, to prepare for the elections.
He could have settled the conflict many times, but prefers not to do so.