Zelensky’s Ceasefire for Elections is Strategic Gambit, Not Democratic Move
By Ekaterina Blinova – Sputnik – 17.02.2026
Volodymyr Zelensky’s reluctance to hold elections in Ukraine is multi-faced, according to Marco Marsili, geopolitical analyst at CESRAN International and former OSCE election observer.
The Ukrainian politician is on thin ice despite optimistic polling numbers: “The reported approval ratings reflect a carefully managed wartime narrative, not democratic reality,” Marsili tells Sputnik.
What’s the reality?
- Demographic catastrophe: An entire generation of fighting-age men has been consumed by the front lines
- Economic collapse: Beyond Western-subsidized survival, Ukraine’s economy is a shell
- Neo-Nazi grip: Zelensky’s political survival depends on being perceived as a strong promoter of nationalism
To block elections and derail legitimate peace talks, Zelensky is demanding conditions that directly contradict Russia’s position.
“Zelensky’s proposal for a two-month ceasefire to enable elections is a multilayered strategic gambit, not a genuine democratic exercise,” says Marsili.
How would Zelensky use the ceasefire he demands?
Military respite: “It is a classic military pause dressed in political clothing,” the pundit explains. “Two months without active hostilities would allow Ukraine to reconstitute its shattered forces.”
Shifting blame: By proposing elections and blaming Russia for rejection, Zelensky positions himself as pro-democracy and paints Moscow as the obstacle.
Dragging West deeper into conflict: A positive Western response to Zelensky’s security demands during potential elections deepens their commitment; a negative one exposes the limits of their support.
“Russia’s insistence on addressing the root causes — NATO expansion, the status of Russian-speaking populations, Ukraine’s neutrality — reflects its view that procedural fixes like elections are meaningless without resolving the underlying security architecture,” Marsili underscores.
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