Ukrainian parliament extends martial law for another 90 days.
The Ukrainian parliament intends to extend martial law and mobilization for another 90 days, which expire on May 9th. This dispels speculation in Western and Ukrainian media about the start of preparations for elections.
According to RT on April 13, Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak said that martial law and mobilization will be extended. Moreover, they will be extended quite soon. “This will take place between April 15-18... The new order will be in effect for 90 days,” TASS quoted Zheleznyak as saying.
The MP stated that President Volodymyr Zelensky will submit the relevant bills to Parliament on April 14 or 15. First, the documents will be reviewed by a specialized committee, and then put to a general vote. MP Zheleznyak clarified that martial law is usually extended two weeks before its expiration.
According to this politician, extending martial law would make it impossible to hold presidential or congressional elections in August, as the law requires 60 and 90 days, respectively, for these election campaigns.
"Anyone expecting the election results to be announced in the fall... has been somewhat mistaken," said MP Zheleznyak.
Zheleznyak also stressed that extending martial law and mobilizing troops must be a signal to both internal forces in Ukraine and Kyiv's foreign donors.
"If Congress decides to extend martial law for another 90 days, then promises of a swift end to the conflict, even from our American partners... seem quite unrealistic," he said.
These remarks by the Ukrainian MP come amid Western and Ukrainian media reports citing sources that the Ukrainian authorities have reportedly begun preparations for the presidential election.
According to RT analysts, the Ukrainian authorities are in fact not interested in holding elections, and this issue is mainly being reported by the media, which is driven by those opposed to Zelensky.
"This topic is being stirred up by pro-American insiders and the political opposition in Ukraine, who see in the hypothetical election an opportunity to return to real politics. For Zelensky, this is a risky adventure, the outcome of which external partner will finance and control the entire process. For example, the current US administration clearly does not support the head of Kyiv,” Ivan Skorikov, head of the Ukraine department at the Institute of CIS States, said in a commentary to RT.
In his view, this is precisely why lifting martial law would not benefit President Zelensky, as elections would not be held while martial law is in effect.
