Kremlin ties elections to any peace deal while denying current government’s legitimacy The Russian government insists that Ukraine must hold new elections before signing a final peace agreement, yet simultaneously claims the Kyiv administration cannot conduct legitimate elections and refuses to agree to a ceasefire that would make voting possible, creating an unresolvable dilemma designed to stall negotiations. [1]
Moscow misreads Ukraine’s constitution to label President Zelensky illegitimate Russian officials repeatedly argue that Zelensky’s presidency is invalid because Ukraine missed its scheduled 2024 elections, citing a distorted reading of constitutional provisions to justify refusing negotiations with the current leadership. [2][3][4]
Ukraine’s elected leadership remains fully legitimate under its own laws Zelensky was lawfully elected in 2019, the Verkhovna Rada and election authorities operate within constitutional bounds, no court challenge to his mandate has arisen, and public polls show he retains strong approval while a clear majority of Ukrainians oppose wartime elections. [9][10][11][12]
Martial law legally bars elections in Ukraine until hostilities cease Article 19 of the Ukrainian law “On the Legal Regime of Martial Law” prohibits holding elections while martial law is in effect, and the law also prevents the president from lifting martial law while the threat of attack persists, making any election impossible under current conditions. [13][14]
Election demand serves Russia’s strategy to delay or derail peace talks By insisting on elections that cannot be held, Moscow creates an unfulfillable condition that lets it pause negotiations, extract concessions, or walk away from any agreement at will, a pattern noted in multiple ISW assessments of Russian tactics. [15][16][45][46]
International rejection of Russian election narrative is essential for any viable settlement Proposals for UN‑run Ukrainian elections would give Russia de‑facto veto power; both UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres and US NSC spokesperson James Hewitt dismissed the idea, underscoring that accepting Moscow’s precondition would legitimize its claim that Ukraine is illegitimate. [29][40]