President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that holding elections in Ukraine is only possible under the condition of a real ceasefire, describing the prospect of voting under bombardment as a "horror." Following the 62nd Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian leader also sharply criticized the West for its failure to sanction the Russian nuclear industry and recalled the collapse of the security guarantees provided by the Budapest Memorandum.
As reported by Hvylya, Zelensky shared these insights in an interview with Politico. While calling the idea of elections "wonderful" and expressing a desire to hold them as soon as possible, he noted that "silence" on the front lines and legislative changes are prerequisite. Currently, approximately 90% of Ukrainians oppose holding a vote due to the inherent risks [actually not true - editor].
"It is a horror. How will our soldiers vote? They defended us, they must vote, and we must hear them. It is also terrible to consider how the 8 million people currently abroad will vote. But they must choose their president," the head of state explained. He emphasized that if Donald Trump could pressure Putin into a two-to-three-month truce, "then we will have elections."
Regarding negotiations, Zelensky confirmed receiving signals from Trump about the need for compromise. However, the Ukrainian leader believes the world has already made unacceptable concessions. "Putin and his friends are not in prison. That is the greatest compromise the world has already made," the President stated. He added that while Ukraine had agreed to a "freeze" proposed by Trump, Putin refused, and this pattern will continue until real pressure is applied to the Kremlin.
Zelensky drew particular attention to the weakness of current sanctions, expressing outrage that restrictions still do not apply to Rosatom or the relatives of the Russian elite living comfortably in the West. "Europeans still haven't introduced sanctions against Russian nuclear energy, against these people, against their relatives, against their children who live in Europe, who live in the US... Get out to Russia. Go home. You respect no one in the US, you don't respect the rules, you don't respect democracy," Zelensky said in an emotional appeal.
Reflecting on 1994, the President noted the total failure of the Budapest Memorandum. Ukraine surrendered the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal and its strategic aviation in exchange for guarantees that proved to be a fiction. "In the end, we have no security guarantees because Russia came, and no one struck back at Russia. No one saved our independence," he summarized.
Zelensky also warned that Putin is attempting to destroy EU unity from within, using specific politicians to orchestrate "internal subversions" aimed at regaining access to assets and lifting sanctions.