Could Ukraine hold a presidential vote under martial law?
Volodymyr Zelenskyy's early January 2025 remarks set out Kyiv's position on elections and on support for Syria's transitional government.
What did Ukraine's leadership say about elections in the first days of 2025? By 6 January 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had addressed the question directly, and had also spoken on relations with Syria.
On 3 January 2025, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not hold presidential elections while the country remained under martial law. He maintained that position even if Russia made an election a pre-condition for negotiations.
The stance rested on the legal situation at the time. Presidential elections had been scheduled for March or April 2024, but martial law, in force since 24 February 2022 in response to the full-scale Russian invasion, meant no vote took place, because Ukrainian law does not permit presidential elections under martial law. Parliament had approved extensions of martial law in 90-day intervals. Presidential elections determine who serves as president for the next five years.
The martial law regime continued well beyond the covered date. It was later extended for the 20th time, until 31 October 2026.
A day earlier, on 2 January 2025, Zelenskyy had also said that Ukraine would pledge support to the Syrian transitional government, a statement on Ukraine's foreign relations.
Taken together, the remarks of 2 and 3 January 2025 showed Kyiv ruling out an election while martial law lasted, whatever conditions Russia might attach to negotiations, and signalling a diplomatic opening towards Syria's new authorities.
