In a December 8, 2025 interview with Politico, President Donald Trump argued that Ukraine should hold elections despite the ongoing conflict with Russia. Trump emphasized that prolonged delays in voting undermine the democratic process, saying, “They talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore.”

Trump suggested that Ukrainian citizens should have the opportunity to choose their leadership, noting that President Zelensky might still win but stressing that the choice belongs to the people. He framed elections as a fundamental democratic right, even under difficult wartime conditions, and criticized the extended absence of voting as a factor weakening Ukraine’s democratic legitimacy.

It is important to note that Ukraine’s 2015 Law on the Legal Regime of Martial Law prohibits presidential and parliamentary elections during wartime to maintain governance stability. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, this law has been applied to ensure continuity of leadership, a measure common in conflict zones worldwide. Trump’s remarks highlight a tension between adhering to wartime legal frameworks and advancing the principle of electoral choice as a cornerstone of democracy.