Zelensky: If martial law is suspended for elections, we will lose the army
The head of the Ukrainian state said this in an interview with the British broadcaster ITV News, Ukrinform reports.
“Our people are against elections during the war, because everyone understands what will happen. I am not afraid of elections, but what are elections? We have to end martial law or suspend it. If we suspend martial law, we may lose the army. And the Russians will be happy because the issues of spirit and combat capability will be lost. Moreover, it is legally impossible to retain such an army. This is a fact. People will return home, and they will have every right to do so. This will undoubtedly be used by Russia as a basis for counteroffensive actions,” Zelensky said.
He emphasized that “it is the Russians who are raising the topic of elections because they need their man in Ukraine.”
The President also emphasized that it is impossible to ensure that every citizen can vote.
“How will the military vote? It is technically very difficult. Without them, voting will be unfair. What kind of democracy can we talk about when those who defend it cannot vote? What about the millions of people who are abroad? There are eight million people there, and it is essential to set up infrastructure for them. And what about the millions residing in the occupied territories?” he emphasized.
Zelensky added that he believes that after the vote, Russia will claim that “these elections were illegitimate.”
“Russia will claim that they did not vote abroad. How can people vote honestly in the temporarily occupied territories controlled by Russians? It will be the same referendum as in Crimea,” the President emphasized.
In his opinion, Russians are pursuing “complete destabilization in Ukraine.”
As reported by Ukrinform, in an interview with the United News telethon, alongside First Lady Olena Zelenska, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the primary condition for conducting elections is the lifting of martial law in Ukraine.
Photo: President’s Office
