President Zelensky considers holding 2024 elections in wartime

After Russia launched its war in February 2022, Ukraine declared martial law, which banned elections. But there have been some calls, including from US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, for the vote to be held even before the war is over, as evidence of a healthy democracy.

"We will not close this page. The president of Ukraine is considering and weighing various pros and cons," said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Ukraine is scheduled to hold presidential elections in March next year. He cited security risks and how to ensure voting rights for hundreds of thousands of soldiers, millions of Ukrainians abroad and those living under Russian occupation. President Zelensky said elections could take place if necessary, but parliament would have to change the law and require foreign assistance to help finance the implementation of the bill and find somewhere for millions of people to vote abroad. Zelensky said he would like to run for another term if the election takes place. His ratings remain high, although they have fallen slightly since the first year of the war.

Russia controls nearly a fifth of Ukraine and some 6 million Ukrainians live across Europe. Political analysts and some opposition politicians say it will be extremely difficult for Ukraine to ensure free, fair and secure elections as Russia continues to attack the country with drones and missiles. Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently criticized EU leaders' expectations that Ukraine would win the conflict with Russia as unfounded and overly ambitious, calling for a new approach to ending the conflict.

Hungarian Prime Minister Orban stressed that the EU’s current strategy towards Ukraine has “completely failed”. “They think that Ukraine will win and Russia will lose, then the leadership in Russia will change and they will negotiate with the new Russian leadership. This is a failed plan. It is very ambitious but it will not work,” the Hungarian leader said.

He also claimed that despite the dire outlook, EU leaders still want Ukraine to fight and are willing to provide Kiev forces with funding and weapons only to prolong the conflict. Prime Minister Orban insisted that the EU needs an alternative strategy that would allow for a ceasefire and peace talks.

“Hungary supports Plan B. We call for a new European security architecture that can be accepted by both Russia and Ukraine,” he said. The Hungarian leader added that this new security architecture should include Turkey so that it can have a positive impact on the Turkish world. “Without Türkiye, there can be no security in Europe,” Orban said.

Mr Orban's comments came after Hungary last week blocked a 50 billion euro ($52.8 billion) EU aid package for Ukraine. Explaining the move, Budapest said it was "obvious" that Kiev would not be able to defeat Moscow on the front line, and that Brussels' strategy of punishing Russia while flooding Ukraine with money and weapons had failed. Mr Orban also criticized European countries for pursuing a "war strategy" in their relations with Russia, stressing that this approach would only cause more conflict. By contrast, Budapest is pursuing a "peace strategy" and is "proud" to maintain good relations with Russia./.