By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he believes it is currently not the right time to hold presidential election, as the country is locked in a conflict with Russia.
“I believe that now is not the right time for election. And if we need to put an end to a political dispute and continue to work in unity, there are structures in the state that are capable of putting an end to it and giving society all the necessary answers,” Zelenskyy said during an address late Monday.
Presidential election in Ukraine is held every five years and supposed to be organized in March 2024. But the country is currently under martial law due to the armed conflict with Russia, which started in February 2022.
He said it is “absolutely irresponsible” to talk of holding election in a frivolous manner when there are “so many challenges” in wartime.
“I expect all relevant structures and authorities to provide concrete solutions to the challenges that our country is facing today. This applies to the civilian authorities, the military element of the state, the government officials, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine and other law enforcement agencies,” the president added.
He said the state needs to focus more on defense, adding that “the waves of any politically divisive things must stop.”
“We must realize that now is the time of defense, the time of the battle that determines the fate of the state and people, not the time of manipulations, which only Russia expects from Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy had earlier said he would run for a second term in office if the conflict with Moscow continued.