Truce for votes: why does Putin need elections in Ukraine?

Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin may call for a temporary lull on the front lines to allow for a vote in Ukraine. His logic is based on the fact that the electoral process could exacerbate internal divisions within Ukrainian society.

This opinion was expressed on the air of “Pryamoy” by political strategist Oleksiy Golobutsky.

“Putin may agree, understanding that as a result of the elections and during the elections, something may happen that will simplify the process of destroying Ukraine for him,” the studio guest explained, while suggesting that the current government is interested in a quick campaign under special laws, since over time and with the restoration of freedom of speech, the leadership’s rating will inevitably fall.

In addition, Golobutsky pointed to the role of external players, in particular US President Donald Trump, who may find it easier to negotiate with a new or re-elected leader on tough terms. At the same time, he reminded that the situation in Ukrainian politics changes rapidly, and those who were considered heroes yesterday may find themselves under a barrage of criticism tomorrow due to new facts about the head of state’s entourage.

During a conversation on the air of “Pryamoy”, the political strategist also suggested that preparations for a possible election campaign may be closely linked to the search for complex peace agreements. He noted that discussing specific conditions, such as free economic zones in Donbas, may become part of the current government’s pre-election strategy.

“This whole scheme – a free economic zone, some kind of demilitarized zone – is just so that Zelensky can go on the election campaign and say that my hands were being twisted, but I will do it to the last… This is the maximum that we have, this is not treason,” Oleksiy Golobutsky emphasized.

As a reminder, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a discussion at the Munich Security Conference, announced Ukraine’s readiness to organize an electoral process in the event of a two-month ceasefire. In his opinion, Donald Trump is able to facilitate this by putting pressure on the Russian dictator.

However, Andriy Magera, an expert at the Center for Political and Legal Reforms, expressed doubts about the appropriateness of such rhetoric on the air of “Pryamoy”. He warned that such statements could be used by foreign propaganda to promote theses about the limited sovereignty of our state.

In addition, the emergence of information about the holding of elections in Ukraine raises many questions . According to political scientist Oleksandr Krayev, the date of May 15, which falls on a Friday, raises doubts due to its inconsistency with Ukrainian legislation and military realities, but it may be part of a broader foreign policy game of the American side.

At the same time, any conflicts within the country and the lack of unity at the political level create new opportunities for enemy advancement , so Ukrainian society needs to adapt to a long-term confrontation, said Stepan Barna, commander of the platoon of the 10th separate mountain assault brigade “Edelweiss”.

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