Hey friends, ever wondered why Ukraine hasn't held elections since Feb 2022? 🤔 Let's dive in, as of Dec 11, 2025:
- Martial law in effect since Feb 24, 2022 (renewed every 90 days; latest renewal: Dec 9, 2025). It explicitly bans nationwide elections.
- President Zelenskyy's five-year term formally ended in May 2024 but continues under a constitutional clause until martial law is lifted.
- Zelenskyy says holding polls now would divide society. He's proposed legal tweaks for secure voting, but only after a ceasefire and international security guarantees.
- Practical hurdles: roughly 1/5 of the country is occupied, millions of Ukrainians are displaced, frontline soldiers can't safely reach polling stations, and missile/drone strikes make large gatherings risky.
- A Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll in September 2025 shows 63% oppose immediate elections, even post-ceasefire, highlighting war fatigue vs. democratic needs.
Approval ratings for Zelenskyy fell to about 20-25% in November-December 2025. In hypothetical matchups, he's now neck and neck with former commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Meanwhile, critics like former US President Trump argue the war is being used as an excuse to delay democracy, though most European leaders prioritize peace talks first.
For Ukraine, it's a tough balance: preserving democratic principles, but only when it's safe. 🕊️🗳️ Will a truce and foreign security guarantees pave the way for polls? Time will tell.
Reference(s):
EXPLAINER: Why Ukraine postpones elections amid Russian conflict
cgtn.com
