Ukraine’s parliament has approved the creation of a cross-party working group to draft a one-off law regulating
elections during martial law, a move aimed at answering growing international and domestic questions about how democratic processes could be preserved amid Russia’s war.
Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said the group would prepare a draft framework that allows Ukraine to hold what he described as “safe, democratic elections trusted by the entire world,” despite ongoing security risks.
The working group will be led by First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko and will include representatives of all parliamentary factions and groups, civil society organizations, and the Central Election Commission of Ukraine.
Speaking at an event marking Ukraine’s Diplomatic Service Day on Monday, Dec. 22, Stefanchuk
added that the legislation would be used only once and tailored specifically to wartime conditions.
He said lawmakers must determine how soldiers on active duty, internally displaced people, and Ukrainian refugees abroad would be able to vote, as well as address the issue of elections in temporarily occupied territories and the presence of international observers.
“Each of these issues has a whole range of pros and cons that must be carefully worked through,” Stefanchuk said.
“We need to take the best global experience and offer Ukraine a new law designed specifically for these elections.”
Stefanchuk added that after wartime elections are completed, Ukraine intends to return to the standard constitutional framework and the provisions of its existing Electoral Code, underscoring that the initiative is meant as an exceptional measure rather than a permanent change to the country’s electoral system.
A recent Kyiv Post analysis outlined the
legal and practical hurdles to holding elections during wartime.
Trump’s call for elections in Ukraine
In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump claimed that Ukraine
could no longer be considered a democracy because elections had not been held for an extended period.
Asked by Politico whether it was time for Ukraine to hold an election, Trump replied: “Yeah, I think so. It’s been a long time… Yeah, I think it’s time. I think it’s an important time to hold an election.”
He alleged that Ukrainian authorities were “using war not to hold an election” and said that “the Ukrainian people… should have that choice.”
Trump added that the outcome of a vote was uncertain, saying, “And maybe Zelensky would win. I don’t know who would win, but they haven’t had an election in a long time.”
“You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore,” he said.
Responding to the issue on Sunday, Dec. 14, Zelensky said he would not speculate on whether such signals were coming from the US or from Russia, emphasizing that he is not clinging to power.
“I am not holding on to my seat. I believe that Ukraine should be ready for any development of events,” Zelensky said.
He added that he had asked Ukraine’s international partners to assist with security arrangements if
elections were to take place, and said lawmakers should prepare possible mechanisms for holding a vote should conditions allow.
