Zelenskyy said that if martial law is lifted for the sake of elections, Ukraine will lose its army

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that the lifting of martial law for the purpose of holding elections could lead to the loss of the Ukrainian army, which the Russians will certainly take advantage of. That’s what he’s about told during an interview with the British broadcaster ITV News.

Zelenskyy explained that in the conditions of war, the population of Ukraine opposes the elections because they are aware of their possible consequences:

“As for the elections, we would all like the war to end and we would hold elections, we want the war to end more than anyone. During the war, our population is against elections, because everyone understands what will happen.

What is the election today? I am not afraid of them at all. Just what will happen? We must end or suspend martial law. If we suspend martial law, we will lose the army. And, in principle, the Russians will be happy. Matters of fighting capacity, morale, etc., you lose. And legally you cannot keep such an army.

People will return home and will have every right to return home, and even those who won’t return, morally… everything, it’s a pause. And Russia will definitely use it for counteroffensive actions”.

Zelenskyi also emphasized the difficulties of organizing voting for the military, Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories and millions of citizens who are abroad:

“You will see, if there are elections, and those people who will not be able to vote abroad or in the temporarily occupied territories, and then Russia will say: “We do not believe in these elections.” Although I am not interested in their opinion, they will say: “These elections were illegitimate.”

And how can people fairly vote in the temporarily occupied territories controlled by the Russians? There will be approximately the same referendum that was held in Crimea – at gunpoint. What do the Russians want? This is the complete destabilization in Ukraine. Therefore, I would be very careful with this question.”