According to him, this could greatly simplify the holding of elections in war conditions.
The head of state emphasized that online voting could be a solution for military personnel at the front and citizens abroad. At the same time, there is currently no legislative basis for this format of elections in Ukraine.
Zelensky noted that he conveyed signals to parliament about possible options for holding elections during the war or in conditions of a partial cessation of hostilities.
“The war, unfortunately, continues, but there are partial agreements that a referendum or elections will take place while we do not have missiles, drones, etc. – of various types of such attacks. Is this possible? I conveyed all my signals to our parliamentarians. I have not received any answers yet,” the president said.
January 3 The head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, during a meeting with national security advisers from 15 countries and representatives of European institutions, said that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine should prepare and present a draft bill on elections and referendums in the country by the end of February.
Context
The next presidential elections in Ukraine were scheduled to take place in the spring of 2024. However, in Art. 19 of the Law of Ukraine on the legal regime of martial law states that under martial law (this regime in Ukraine has been in effect since February 24, 2022), it is prohibited to hold presidential and parliamentary elections.
Western partners talked about the need to hold elections in Ukraine in 2024, but Ukrainian President Zelensky explained that for this it is necessary to make changes to the Electoral Code and find funds to organize elections. In addition, for them to be legitimate, observers need to be sent to the front lines.
On December 8, 2025, US President Donald Trump said that the time had come for Ukraine to hold presidential elections, since, in his opinion, the war was being used as a reason to postpone them. “I’m always ready about elections,” Zelensky responded on the same day. Later, the president explained why the Kremlin is committed to voting for Ukrainians in the Russian Federation and under occupation.
On December 22, the Rada began to prepare a bill on elections during the war, said Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk. According to him, the new law will be one-time only.
