Zelensky Fires Back at Russian Claims That He’s Illegitimate After His Mandate Ended in May: ‘Our People Are Free’

Gateway Pundit ^ | 6-8-24 | Paul Serran

[bimboeruption]

With his constitutional Presidential mandate expired, the ‘champion for democracy’, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is facing the discredit by the Russian enemies.

Recently re-elected in a landslide, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s has been repeatedly clear about how Moscow sees the Ukrainian leader as lacking legitimacy.

For the first time, in a press conference in France alongside President Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky addressed the allegations and dismissed them.

Reuters reported:

President Volodymyr Zelensky said his legitimacy is recognized and determined by the Ukrainian people while criticizing that of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“‘President Zelensky’s legitimacy is recognized by the people of Ukraine. Our people are free. Putin’s legitimacy is recognized only by comrade Putin’, he told a press conference in Paris.”

As we see, the leader who cancelled elections sees himself as more legitimate than the one who held them and won in a landslide. So it goes.

The Presidential elections in Ukraine were supposed to take place this spring, and by late May, Zelensky’s five-year term of office ended.

Zelensky now is ruling by force of Martial law in his country.

“However, martial law introduced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 bans any wartime election. The constitution says the president serves until a newly elected one takes office.

Putin claimed several times that Zelensky is illegitimate after his five-year term ended this May.”

Putin says that the only Ukrainian authority Russia recognizes as of now is the speaker of Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk.

But Western leaders – who are after all Ukraine’s sponsors and handlers – have not questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy.

Zelensky’s response comes days after Putin started claiming that presidential power should be shifted to speaker of Ukraine’s parliament Stefanchuk.

It is perhaps not a great sign that Zelensky is now talking of himself in the third person. Kyiv Independent reported him as saying.: “It is the people of Ukraine who elect him, and I am very grateful for their support. Our people are free. This is what we are fighting for.”

The latest presidential election should have been held on March 31, 2024, with Zelensky’s term would ending on May 20.

Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk also dismissed Putin’s claims about Zelensky’s legitimacy; “Volodymyr Zelensky remains and will remain Ukraine’s president until the end of martial law. All this is in accordance with Ukraine’s Constitution and laws.”

[Chad C. Mulligan]

Jaruzelski the Polish Communist? Avowed enemy of rule of law? THAT Jaruzelski?

[JonPreston]

There is no Ukrainian constitution, post Zelensky coup.

[Chad C. Mulligan]

There is no Ukrainian constitution, post Zelensky coup.

I wonder if you could find even one lawyer or politician in Ukraine who wouldn't fall down laughing after reading that statement.

[JonPreston]

I wonder if you could find even one lawyer or politician in Ukraine who wouldn't fall down laughing after reading that statement.

Well there you go again, Chad. Biden Democracy is the PEOPLE, not the politicians and lawyers. Please focus on the many rather than the elite few.

[Chad C. Mulligan]

Rule of Law IS the people in Ukraine, (administered by the Verkhovna Rada, appointed and elected executives, lawyers and judges.) In the present case, Rule of Law specifically permits imposition of a defined set of rules called Martial Law, for a fixed period of time, and with the explicit approval of the Rada. Those rules suspend elections. This does not overcome things like Succession Principle, which is enshrined within the law. Russia for example has no Succession Principle. When Putin dies there will be chaos and violence until the next strongman murders his way to the top. That cannot happen in Ukraine, unless God forbid Russia totally defeats Ukraine and annexes the whole country. If Zelensky dies, or quits, the constitution provides for and orderly transfer of power to the Speaker of the Rada, as happened when Yanokovich fled, once Putin decided he was no longer viable. If the Rada so decides, the Martial Law declaration can be rescinded, which I suppose would automatically transfer power to the Speaker if the Yanukovich episode is any precedent. (That was Oleksandr Turchynov, who was acting President until Poroshenko was elected in May.) Zelensky is not and cannot be a dictator in the Putin sense, although it's apparent you want us to believe otherwise.

[JonPreston]

Sorry Chad. Zelenskyy’s term expired on 5/20/24. He’s either a dictator or the beneficiary of a coup (see 2014 for further details)

[adorno]

For example comparing us to traitor "Jane Fonda," and calling us "traitors to the cause of freedom".

Was Jane Fooda not supporting the enemy? Was Tokyo Rose not supporting the enemy? Do people now do exactly the same as Hanoi-Jane? Fact is that, when the enemy sees the intentional or even unintentional comments that help their cause, then, it's no different from what Hanoi-Jane did. The enemy sees that a a hopeful turn of events within this country, and that perhaps that kind of rhetoric will lead to the U.S. ending support of Ukraine.

Pulling posts does not change the reality of what I said. What I said still applies.

[adorno]

>i>Same thing, same result both ending in total failure

So, the U.S. is a total failure and the peace has not been maintained? Not total peace, but relative peace, with no major wars. We haven't had a world war since the last one, and we will, if Putin and Xi get any part of their intentions or plans implemented. Putin is getting help from many in the U.S., and those people are too ignorant to realize it.

[bimboeruption]

>>>>Was Jane Fooda not supporting the enemy? Was Tokyo Rose not supporting the enemy? Do people now do exactly the same as Hanoi-Jane?<<<<

In case you’ve forgotten, Jane Fonda volunteered herself as the mascot of the North Vietnamese communists. She helped their cause by doing propaganda broadcasts on their radio stations and making appearances on their behalf in North Vietnam. She sat on their anti-aircraft gun which was used to shoot down American planes and American airmen. Fonda betrayed America.

Comparing those on this site who disagree with you over a proxy war, (many of whom are Vietnam Vets or their spouses or kids) to Hanoi Jane shows what a twisted, stupid richard you are.

[JonPreston]

the presidencies of Bush #41, Clinton, Bush #43, and Obama have fundamentally changed America for the worse. The destruction was a team effort with Rs and Ds joining in. Trump’s four relatively successful years were sullied by the administrative “left behinds” of the aforementioned presidents. Hope this helps, but Neocons such as yourself are beyond learning.

[Sirius Lee]

Adorno and Sirius Lee are Marxist neocons that want to censor Free Republic which is typical of controlled opposition GOPe scumbags. Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies Zelensky Fires Back at Russian Claims That He’s Illegitimate After His Mandate Ended in May: ‘Our People Are Free’

6/9/2024, 11:49:23 AM · 85 of 150 wildcard_redneck to JonPreston; Sirius Lee Sirius Lee will soon be advocating for Freepers to be rounded up, shipped off to camps, and exterminated - censorship is the first step of genocide. He is nothing but a totalitarian arguing for the censorship on this forum and for all Americans. Pure scumbag behavior. Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies The state of discourse on Free Republic 6/9/2024, 11:32:36 AM · 427 of 520 Armscor38 to Sirius Lee “Fixed it. This is just how it is every 4 years. You’ll get over it.” Im fine. Just expressing an opinion based on my own observations.

Post Reply | Private Reply | To 395 | View Replies Zelensky Fires Back at Russian Claims That He’s Illegitimate After His Mandate Ended in May: ‘Our People Are Free’ 6/9/2024, 11:23:15 AM · 78 of 150 wildcard_redneck to Sirius Lee; JonPreston Have you noticed that all of the Bidenista Ukraine backers are now calling for censorship on FR? How surprising. These reptiles are nothing but leftist totalitarians who demand that we are silenced so that they can cheer like idiot soccer fans over a war 5000 miles away overseas designed to distract the American people and enrich those that prey upon us. Make no mistake, people who want to censor you would have no qualms in killing you.

If you've read my infrequent forays into these ukraine sewer threads you would see that I've been a huge critic of the yooks and Zel the clown. Pootin' too. But as for "censorship" you've made my point better than I could with these garbage posts of yours. Both sides of this issue are stinking up FR. You're taking it to a new low.

How you equate being relegated to FR's smokey backroom where trash talk is welcome to concentration camps is truly hilarious.

You are destroying FreeRepublic.com

[JonPreston]

so here you come to these threads, only to tell us not to post on these threads. Some would call that virtue signaling, others would say it a call for censorship. I’ll call it finger wagging by someone who should start his own forum.

[Sirius Lee]

so here you come to these threads, only to tell us not to post on these threads. Some would call that virtue signaling, others would say it a call for censorship. I’ll call it finger wagging by someone who should start his own forum.

You keep proving my argument.

[JonPreston]

I’m going with finger wagging.

[wildcard_redneck]

I have had more than enough of censorship and to see left-leaning, nanny Freepers squeal for censorship burns me up. You are not going to change my mind. Next thing we know you will be whining about micro aggressions and not feeling safe. Go somewhere else if you are so fragile that you need a safe space.

Go take some testosterone and man up. Being a low-T lefty is no way to go through life.

[adorno]

I have had more than enough of censorship and to see left-leaning, nanny Freepers squeal for censorship burns me up.

That's the classic symptom and the classic language that those who want censorship and the silencing of their opposition use. Democrats sound exactly like you, and Baghdad Bob denied all that Saddam was up to, but we all knew that Saddam, just like democrats and censors, will censor and then deny furiously that, they are censoring anybody. They point fingers at others as being the censors, while it's very clear who the real censors are.

[wildcard_redneck]

Right. Leftist nags call for censorship and I am the problem. I find you disgusting and of limited intelligence.

[JonPreston]

After two years of hand-to-hand fighting with Zeepers, Neocons, and warmongers our Vichy Republicans have joined the fray on the side of America’s enemies. When we win and this freedom train leaves the station, they will try to get on. Don’t let them on.

[wildcard_redneck]

"Is Putin a legitimate president? Was he approved by the people? Did he cheat to become president for life?

Putin is like the democrats in the U.S., who like to accuse others of what they do, and do openly with no shame. Putin is just as shameless."

You sound insane. Now go call for me to be censored you little whackadoo.

[wildcard_redneck]

"Well, with creepy Putin, it all depends on which country one is talking about.

Awaiting his comments on the legitimacy of President Kim of North Korea, Xi of China, Khamenei of Iran, and of course his best pals in the leadership of Hamas plus Mahmoud Abbas of the PA."

You forgot to mention your hero dicktater Biden who stole the presidency in a coup.

Dicktater - do you get it? It is a perfect label for Biden because it is the perfect combination of tyrant, penis and potato-head!