Musk Demands Ukraine Vote as Lawmakers Back Zelenskiy’s Mandate
Ukrainian Parliament’s support for Zelenskiy’s mandate comes amid demands from Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine hold presidential elections.
Ukraine’s parliament passed a resolution on Tuesday saying President Volodymyr Zelenskiy should remain in power as long as Russia’s war continues and new elections may only be held once peace has been achieved, prompting a reaction from Elon Musk.
Lawmakers in Kyiv approved the resolution with 268 of 280 votes on Tuesday.
“Hold an election,” wrote Musk, a key ally of US President Donald Trump, on social media platform X, in response to a post about the results of the parliament’s vote.
Parliament’s support for Zelenskiy’s mandate comes at a delicate moment, amid demands from Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Ukraine hold snap presidential elections.
Moscow has long demanded the vote and called Zelenskiy illegitimate, pointing to the fact that his term in office formally ended last May. However, an opinion poll by the Socis pollster, cited in Ukrainska Pravda, showed a majority of Ukrainians oppose holding a vote while Russia’s full-scale invasion continues.
The parliament in Kyiv reiterated that Ukraine’s constitution does not allow elections while martial law stays in effect. Presidential elections will be held once a “comprehensive, just and stable peace” is ensured, read the resolution.
Zelenskiy must exercise his powers until the new president assumes office, the resolution said, referring to a constitutional need to ensure the continuity of power.
