Why Zelensky’s Resignation Seems Impossible Right Now

5th March 2025

3 minutes read

Why Zelensky’s Resignation Seems Impossible Right Now

As U.S. officials hint at the possibility of a leadership change in Ukraine, questions arise about the feasibility of holding elections under the current circumstances.

For several days, officials in President Donald Trump’s administration have suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may need to step down.

However, Ukrainian officials and analysts told CNN that any leadership change in Kyiv would trigger at least six months of political deadlock and require a permanent ceasefire before elections could be held in compliance with international standards.

Three Major Obstacles

According to a CNN report, three key obstacles make holding new elections in Ukraine difficult:

Availability of polling stations: Currently, only three-quarters of Ukraine’s polling stations are operational. According to Serhiy Dubovyk, deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Electoral Commission, preparing elections that meet “international standards” would take at least six months.
Constitutional provisions: Ukraine’s constitution states that if the president resigns, the speaker of parliament assumes office until elections are held.
Martial law: Ukraine is currently under martial law, which prohibits elections until it is lifted—meaning that a sustainable ceasefire or peace would be required.

What Does Trump Want?

The focus on Zelensky’s future has intensified after Trump’s closest advisers hinted on Sunday that he might no longer be the leader Ukraine needs.

On Monday, Trump responded to Zelensky’s statement that the end of the war was still “very, very far away” by saying that the U.S. would no longer tolerate such rhetoric “for much longer.”

Conversely, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick stated that Trump had no interest in ousting the Ukrainian president.

Zelensky, for his part, appeared to dismiss the idea of stepping down when speaking to reporters in London on Sunday.

He stated:

“It’s not enough just to hold elections. You would have to prevent me from running… You would have to negotiate with me.”

He then suggested—just as he had before—that he would resign if Ukraine were granted NATO membership, a possibility the Trump administration has repeatedly ruled out.

He even jokingly remarked that NATO’s acceptance of Ukraine would mean that he had “completed his mission.”

Logistical Challenges

In this context, the deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Electoral Commission explained that organizing elections quickly presents numerous practical challenges.

He stated:

“First, martial law must be legally lifted. Second, a preparatory phase is necessary, as the country is at war, and only 75% of polling stations are operational, including in territories under Russian control.”

He added that the six-month preparation period, as agreed upon by representatives of all factions in the Ukrainian Parliament, was a “reasonable timeframe.”

However, he admitted that while the process could be accelerated, “it would be impossible to fully comply with all international standards.”

Dubovyk and several other Ukrainian officials also highlighted the logistical challenge of enabling 7 million refugees abroad to vote.

Not to mention the issue on the front lines—allowing an estimated one million Ukrainian soldiers the opportunity to vote and run for office.

Impossible… but!

Olha Aivazovska, from the Opora Civil Network electoral reform group, stated:

“We need to restore all freedoms of movement and expression and conduct a competitive electoral process.”

She added that wartime elections are impossible because they would be “unconstitutional.”

She concluded:

“Everything we have today, due to the war, needs to be changed. It’s about Ukraine’s reputation and legitimacy. Without legitimacy, the state will not survive, because Russia will destroy our credibility, and we will become a failed state.”