The Facts
Ukraine's Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is "weighing the pros and cons" of holding presidential elections in the spring of 2024, the country's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced on Friday.
Though he admitted that conducting free and fair elections during the war with Russia would entail logistical and security challenges, Kuleba said, "We are not closing this page."
The Spin
Narrative A
While elections are evidence of the country's democratic health, Ukraine neither has the funds nor constitutional approval to conduct a free, fair, and safe electoral process as Russia continues to strike the country with drones and missiles. However, for the sake of Ukraine's democracy, Zelenskyy must prepare to address the challenges that will come with post-war elections to retain legitimacy, political stability, and national unity.
Narrative B
Zelenskyy, who wants to run for another term if an election happens, is fixated on victory instead of a truce. Not much has changed five months after Ukraine launched its much-anticipated counteroffensive. Ukrainians are dying, Russia still occupies nearly one-fifth of the country, and the battlefield has reached a stalemate. Either Zelenskyy takes a qualitative leap to break the remorseless war or gives way.
