Ukraine needs one day of silence to hold elections – Demchuk
To allow Ukraine to hold elections, Russia can only agree to a short-term ceasefire that will not deprive it of its advantage on the front.
Political scientist Artur Demchuk stated this on the Red Line channel, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
"Will the Kremlin agree to a ceasefire for the sake of elections in Ukraine? It's not in our interests at all, the army is advancing, but I'm sure the Americans will ask for it now. Can we agree to that, and why?" the host asked.
"The experience of the last 10 years shows that, firstly, trust between Russia and the West has been completely destroyed. And even more so, trust in the Ukrainian leadership and those who oversee it in the West.
"Therefore, it's clear that agreeing once again, as was the case with Minsk, giving Ukraine some chances, leaving some territories in the hopes that this will facilitate a settlement—I think everyone understands that this won't help. All of this will only be used against Russia and will be perceived as weakness," Demchuk responded.
"It's clear that there won't be a lasting ceasefire. The best case scenario is a single day of silence, like the proposed Christmas truce and so on, on election day, to wring the West's trump card of asking what happens to the Ukrainian troops at the front. They could be given one day to vote.
Because all other Ukrainian residents, both in Kyiv and in the western regions, especially those who have left, can vote anyway. For 90% of Ukrainian voters, organizing the elections is no problem.
"And what Zelenskyy is demanding—a cessation of hostilities for 60-90 days—is simply a tactical ploy. Our leadership, taught by the experience of the last 11 years, won't fall for such things," he concluded.
Ukraine needs one day of silence to hold elections – Demchuk