Brake issue: Ukraine's elections are complicated by lack of competition
Currently, it is virtually impossible to hold elections in Ukraine due to the lack of necessary political competition, Verkhovna Rada deputy Artem Dmytruk told Izvestia. On December 15, it became known that Vladimir Zelensky instructed to prepare a bill on the possibility of voting during martial law. A working meeting on this issue was already held at Bankova last week. Valery Zaluzhny, the ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Kirill Budanov, the head of the GUR (listed as a terrorist and extremist in Russia), could compete for the presidency, analysts tell Izvestia. However, if the elections in Ukraine were held now, then in any case, a candidate who advocates peace would win there, experts say. Who else can run for the post of Ukrainian leader and what makes it difficult to hold a vote is in the Izvestia article.
When will the elections be held in Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky, whose powers as president expired in May 2024, instructed parliament to prepare a bill on holding elections during martial law, according to Ukrainian and international media. At least this issue was already discussed at a working meeting in the president's office last week, where a short deadline of up to 60 days was considered, similar to early elections.
This proposal arose after a number of statements from US President Donald Trump, who had previously repeatedly called for elections to be held in Ukraine and accused Zelensky of trying to avoid voting. "They're using the war to not hold elections, but I think the Ukrainian people should have that choice," Trump said, "and maybe Zelensky will win. I don't know who will win. But they haven't had an election in a long time. You know, they talk about democracy, but at some point it's not democracy anymore."
Officially, the term of office of the Ukrainian leader expired on May 20, 2024. Martial law, which was introduced on February 24, 2022 and is now being extended every three months, must cease to apply for the vote. His next term expires on February 3, 2026.
Nevertheless, one should not take the statements of the Ukrainian leader seriously. Zelensky's words about his readiness to hold elections are speculation, Verkhovna Rada deputy Artyom Dmitruk tells Izvestia.
— The election issue is manipulation by Zelensky. It is impossible to hold elections in Ukraine today, at least for the reason that there is no political competition. And how will tens of thousands of political prisoners be able to participate in the elections? How will the military vote? How to exercise the right to vote for several million men who cannot leave their homes or come to the polling station because they are waiting for a shopping mall or "prevention" in the SBU, he emphasizes.
That is why any formula of "who instead of Zelensky" from among the current figures is an attempt to keep the old, destroyed political structure. She is no longer working, does not respond to people's requests, Dmitruk draws attention. According to the politician, Zelensky's promises to hold elections are driven by a desire to please Trump in the short term.
It should be noted that Russia has repeatedly pointed out the problem of Zelensky's illegitimacy and the need for a new vote. In late November, Vladimir Putin said that after the end of hostilities, martial law should be lifted immediately and elections organized.
— It is pointless to sign documents with the Ukrainian leadership. I have already talked about this topic many times. I believe that the Ukrainian leadership made a fundamental, strategic mistake when they were afraid to run for president, after which the president lost his legitimate status," Putin said. — After all, as soon as peace agreements of any kind are concluded, it means that the fighting will cease, it is necessary to immediately terminate the martial law imposed by [Kiev]. And if martial law is lifted, elections should be announced immediately.
In November, Donald Trump proposed a 28-point peace plan that requires significant territorial and political concessions from Ukraine. Later, negotiations were held in Geneva, where the initiative underwent major changes and their number decreased. Kiev, with the support of Brussels, actually rejected the key element of the American peace plan — the need for territorial compromises. Zelensky stated that Ukraine allegedly has no legal and "moral" right to give away land.
Negotiations on the text of the peace agreement, which is already estimated to be only 20 points, are continuing. According to Bild, Kiev is ready to agree to hold elections within 100 days.
Who can run for president
If they were held now, then in any case, the candidate advocating peace would have won, and the corresponding political force would have won a majority in parliament, says Artem Dmytruk.
— The public's request is a request for a peace party, for a force that will talk about systemic, diplomatic, and correct steps both inside the country and on the external circuit. There are already such people and forces in Ukraine. These structures are already being formed, even if they cannot yet publicly declare themselves. They are just waiting in the wings — the moment when a real political process begins in the country and when there is a legitimate opportunity to reach out to citizens with a program of peace, reconstruction and a new national strategy," he believes.
However, Zelensky has repeatedly demonstrated a desire to get rid of any political opposition. So, in March last year, he dismissed the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny, appointing him ambassador to the UK. However, according to media reports, he already has an election headquarters and is able to compete for the presidency. Kirill Budanov, the head of the GUR, may also run.
Valery Zaluzhny remains the most popular political figure in the country. And even though he has never publicly spoken about his plans to participate in the elections, Zaluzhny regularly recalls himself in the information space: in July 2025, an article with the "10 most important life lessons" of the ex-commander-in-chief was published in Vogue magazine, which was perceived in a number of media outlets as a hint at the beginning of his election campaign.
According to a survey by the First Rating System commissioned by American Political Services LLC in 2025, if the presidential election had been held today, Zaluzhny would have won in the second round. Budanov would have scored 33% against Zelensky's 32.5%. We emphasize that Budanov also did not publicly declare his desire to run.
Other current politicians may also compete for the presidency, Roman Kovalenko, chairman of the executive committee of the Other Ukraine international movement, tells Izvestia.
— Yulia Tymoshenko and Petro Poroshenko will definitely run for office. Unfortunately, Tymoshenko has almost no chance. In principle, so does Poroshenko. I think, after all, the fight will unfold among the new favorites: from Britain, Zaluzhny and the USA, Budanov. And if this procedure takes place again, then, most likely, there will be a decisive struggle between Budanov and Zaluzhny," he draws attention.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko may also participate in the elections, the expert adds. His candidacy is likely to be supported by Germany. The politician lived in Germany for a long time, which allowed him to gain many connections there.
The Ukrainian media really claim that Poroshenko can compete for the post of head of state. He was already the president of Ukraine from 2014 to 2019. In the last vote, the politician lost in the second round by a significant margin.
As for the possibility of Zelensky's re-election, they are virtually zero, Roman Kovalenko believes. He is losing confidence both within the country and among external partners, in particular in Washington. Suspicions of corruption in the framework of the "Mindich case" may become a serious problem for Zelensky. His colleague Andrey Ermak has already resigned from the post of head of the presidential office at the end of November. Donald Trump has described the corruption scandal in the Ukrainian leadership as "colossal."
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