More than half of Ukrainians say Zelensky should not run for president again, poll says

The Kyiv Independent ^ | October 5, 2026 | Yevgeniya Doluda

[MinorityRepublican]

Some 53% of Ukrainians think President Volodymyr Zelensky should not run for a second term, according to a poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on Oct. 5.

In turn, 42% think Zelensky should participate in Ukraine's next presidential election, while 5% were undecided, according to the latest poll.

Ukraine's constitution does not allow elections under martial law, which was declared when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The survey shows a steady decline in support for Zelensky's second term. In December 2023, 59% of respondents said the incumbent president should run again, and only 45% shared this view in December 2025.

The same survey found that a vast majority of Ukrainians — 71% — oppose holding presidential elections during wartime.

The possibility of holding elections during wartime was briefly raised in August by Fedorov, whose sudden dismissal sparked nationwide protests.

However, the Ukrainian public did not respond favorably to Fedorov's call for elections due to the many logistical constraints faced by military personnel, millions of Ukrainians abroad, and those living near the front line.

The KIIS survey also revealed that 45% of Ukrainians believe their country's affairs are moving in the wrong direction, while 40% think the opposite.

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TOPICS: Ukraine
KEYWORDS: diminutivedictator; elpresidente; fakepoll; president4life; putinstoogery

[lightman]

Until the Ukes have a REAL election the US $pigot should be tightly closed!!!

[nathanbedford]

Rubbish! This article points out that the Constitution provides that there shall be no election during a time of war.

This pole merely reinforces the parallel nature of Zelinski's path to Winston Churchill's wartime leadership. We should resume support of Ukraine for the same reasons we supported Great Britain and Winston Churchill.

[mass55th]

"Rubbish! This article points out that the Constitution provides that there shall be no election during a time of war."

The Ukraine Parliament has the authority to change the Constitution to allow elections, if they wanted to, by following the guidelines in the Constitution. They changed their Constitution on November 20, 2018 with a presidential bill "regarding the strategic course of the state for obtaining full membership of Ukraine in the EU and NATO." The Constitutional Court of Ukraine green-lighted the Bill on November 22, 2018, and Parliament adopted the amendment the same day.

Easy-peasy, but, why put yourself out of a job by holding elections, and giving the people the opportunity to speak at the polling booth, if you don't have to?

[nathanbedford]

Under the current legal framework, elections cannot be held while martial law remains in force. Article 19 of Ukraine’s Law “On the Legal Regime of Martial Law” expressly prohibits presidential, parliamentary, local and referendum votes during martial law. The Electoral Code also provides for the suspension of electoral processes during that period.

Moreover, Article 157 of the Constitution bars constitutional amendments during martial law or a state of emergency, and the martial-law statute independently prohibits changing the Constitution during that period. Therefore, Parliament cannot amend the Constitution during the current martial-law regime to create an exception allowing elections.

The 2018 constitutional amendment concerning Ukraine’s strategic course toward EU and NATO membership does not establish that elections may be held under martial law. It was adopted before the present full-scale-war martial-law regime and does not override the constitutional and statutory restrictions now in force.

[nathanbedford]

What Ukrainians want
The latest polling indicates that a clear majority of Ukrainians do not want national elections while the war is actively continuing. A Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) poll conducted in September 2026 found:

71% oppose holding elections during the war.

24% support holding them during wartime.

4–5% are undecided.

That does not mean Ukrainians reject elections or democratic accountability. It mainly reflects concerns that wartime voting would be unsafe, exclude large groups of citizens, and be vulnerable to Russian disruption or coercion

[oldtech]

I would agree & saying too that maybe he should not have been elected the first time as he seems to be about half the reason they are still fighting with Russia. Nobody seems to have the initiative to end the war.

[BroJoeK]

lightman: "Until the Ukes have a REAL election the US $pigot should be tightly closed!!!"

On US aid to Ukraine:

1. No new US aid to Ukraine has been approved since April 2024.
   
2. Most of the aid approved in 2024 was delivered before January 2025.
   
3. The US government has not announced any Ukraine aid deliveries since January 2025, though it has announced sales of weapons to Europeans for potential delivery to Ukraine.

As for Ukrainian elections under martial law:

1. Ukraine's constitution (like many others) forbids it.

2. Polls show 71% of Ukrainians don't want new elections under martial law.

3. 71% of Ukrainians also don't want new elections before a full peace deal is signed & approved.

In Summary:

1. Ukrainians want peace first, then new elections.

2. We are no longer told specifics on US aid, but the likely facts are: A) US aid has ended, B) sales of US weapons to Europeans for Ukraine continue at substantial levels.