Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Elections in Ukraine continues to be a hot topic in the ongoing peace negotiations.
As Ukraine continues to fight Russia’s invasion, a new opinion poll suggests most citizens prefer to delay national elections until the conflict is fully resolved, despite growing international debate over democratic timelines.
The findings point to a public mood shaped by security concerns and uncertainty about how and when the war will end.
Caution over voting
More than half of Ukrainians believe elections should be held only after the war is over and a peace agreement has been signed, according to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).
The poll, conducted between Nov. 26 and Dec. 13, found that 57% support postponing elections until a final settlement.
A further 25% said elections could be acceptable if fighting stops and Ukraine receives firm security guarantees. Only 9% backed holding elections before a ceasefire, down from September.
According to the Kyiv Post, KIIS Executive Director Anton Hrushetsky said the results show no public demand for early voting and noted that President Volodymyr Zelensky’s legitimacy is not widely questioned.
“Therefore, calls for elections in Ukraine are perceived critically by society and seen as attempts to weaken the country,” he said.
Views on peace
The survey also examined attitudes toward potential peace scenarios. According to KIIS, 72% of respondents would support freezing the conflict along current front lines if Ukraine received security guarantees and did not recognize occupied territories as Russian.
However, 75% opposed any plan requiring troop withdrawals from Donbas, limits on the military, or the absence of concrete guarantees.
Expectations for the war’s end remain bleak. Only about one-quarter of respondents believe the conflict could end by mid-2026, while nearly a third expect it to continue into 2027 or beyond. One-third said they were unsure.
Despite this, 63% said they are ready to endure the war for as long as necessary.
Political backdrop
The poll comes as US President Donald Trump questioned Ukraine’s democratic credentials, saying elections were overdue and alleging that authorities were “using war not to hold an election,” according to Politico.
Zelensky has rejected claims he is clinging to power. “I am not holding on to my seat. I believe that Ukraine should be ready for any development of events,” he said, stressing that security conditions would be essential.
Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections under martial law.
Sources: Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Politico, Kyiv Post
