In certain democracies, presidents serve for their country’s respective terms — typically two to four years — then must either step down or run for reelection. On certain occasions, however, circumstances allow for the postponement of a presidential election. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has strictly operated under martial law. The constant violence postponed the 2024 presidential election, with key government and military figures arguing that a nationwide vote could pose a serious security threat to voters. Another concern arose as millions of Ukrainian civilians fled abroad to escape the chaotic war, and any attempts to conduct a national election guaranteed a logistical nightmare.
“I feel as though it’s sometimes reasonable to postpone elections; it really depends. War is politics, and voting is essential to keep governments running, but if your citizens are being bombed to pieces, it’s unreasonable for them to think that the top priority will be voting. If your voters can’t get to the polls without being hurt, I feel like postponing an election makes plenty of sense,” magnet sophomore Cara Porter said.
The constitutional order, which ensures the use of martial law until the end of international conflict, also allows the current president to remain in office until the resolution of the war. With the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion approaching, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated the importance of the Democratic process, while stating his continual belief in delaying the elections.
“We must realize that now is the time of defense, the time of the battle that determines the fate of the state and people, not the time of manipulations, which only Russia expects from Ukraine. I believe that now is not the right time for elections. My personal attitude and call is to take care of our country just as on February 24, to defend it, to destroy the occupier, to fight for the freedom of Ukraine, which is now being gained in the battles for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.
On December 9, 2025, U.S. President Donald J. Trump repeatedly stated his opinion on the postponed elections. Similar to Russian Propaganda, Trump’s stance on Zelenskyy’s continual presidency aims to portray Zelenskyy as an illegitimate leader. Still, like any American, the statement showcases the global value of Democracy.
“They’re using war not to hold an election, but I would think the Ukrainian people should have that choice. And maybe Zelenskyy would win. I don’t know who would win. But they haven’t had an election in a long time. You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore,” Trump said.
Despite the beliefs of outside parties, Zelensky backs his original statement by assuring the people of Ukraine that the postponed elections aim to protect the citizens, not their leaders. In light of this, recent peace negotiations persist in Paris, France, resulting in new security guarantees from Ukraine’s allies. These recent developments merely scratched the surface of the Russia-Ukraine conflict — highlighting the depth of their fundamental disagreements.
On the other hand of the American and Russian politically–charged opinions, the Ukrainian people had yet to unveil their thoughts. As interviews of citizens’ beliefs surrounding the neglected elections resurfaced, the growing consensus seemed to unanimously oppose the Russian and U.S. statements. Similar to their president, Ukrainians believe that their resources should aid in funding the war, not protecting local ballots. The gravity of the situation grows day by day, with millions of missiles, drones and bombs leaving mass death and destruction in their wake. While democratic values and practices fall to the back burner, the debate about when the next presidential election should take place remains unanswered.
