Russia has made demands that Ukraine hold elections, as part of talks to end the war. Even the US President Donald Trump has taken up the matter by hinting that President Volodymyr Zelensky's own mandate can be questioned, since Ukraine has not held elections during the ongoing invasion.
Now, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) is commenting on the negotiating demands for several media outlets.
Putin does not want elections in Ukraine because he cares about Ukrainian democracy. He wants elections to weaken Ukraine under the current state of emergency. That trap must not be fallen into. It is Russia that has started this by attacking Ukraine, they can end it at any time, she says to SVT News.
On May 21, 2024, Zelensky's mandate formally expired after five years in the presidential post. The fact that a new presidential election was not held the previous autumn – during the ongoing invasion and partial occupation – is due to the fact that martial law is in effect in Ukraine.
