Ukrainian Parliament Affirms Elections Are Impossible To Hold Until The War Ends

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy/screenshot via Instagram @zelenskyy_official

JAKARTA - The Ukrainian Parliament issued a resolution confirming the legitimacy of Volodymyr Zelenskyy as president and stressed that elections are impossible until the war ends.

The resolution is a rejection of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who declared Zelenskyy invalid because he did not hold elections during the war with Russia.

Zelenskyy earlier said on Sunday he would resign if that meant peace for his country. Zelenskyy insists he will step down if that means Ukraine will be granted NATO membership.

Reported by ABC News, Tuesday, February 25, the Ukrainian parliament stressed that Zelenskyy was elected through a legitimate election and his mandate was unquestionable.

The election was emphasized by the Ukrainian parliament that it could not be held until the military emergency was lifted after the creation of a "fair and lasting peace".

Zelenskyy was elected in 2019, but his term ended last May. Ukraine is under martial law which under its constitution prohibits holding elections.

Most Ukrainians, including major opposition parties, agreed to hold credible elections in the midst of war impossible as millions of people are abroad as refugees, and hundreds of thousands more are at war.

Elections can also be an opportunity for Russia to divide its country while trying to defend itself.

Members of parliament passed the resolution on Tuesday in a second attempt, after an initial vote on Monday failed to get enough support.

Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian lawmaker representing Zelenskyy's party, told ABC News that Monday's vote failed because too few of the presidential factions were present.

"At that time on Monday, many members of the DPR had not come from their regions," he said. On Tuesday, quite a number of MPs were present so that the vote could run smoothly.