War in Ukraine affects start of Polish presidential campaign

Vitali Klitschkokyiv Mayor

In the current situation, election is poison for our homeland … it’s my personal opinion,

Klitschko told reporters in Brussels, on a visit to receive the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award for courage and excellence in the promotion of freedom

We have to unite our forces to stop the war. And after that, election,

he added

Elections are one of democratic bases, but we have unusual situation in Ukraine,

he said

Even now, he will believe that he can run on the basis of being Ukraine’s defender and have an excellent chance,

Lutsevych said

There are big questions about how the pro-democratic opposition to Zelenskyy organises itself – they don’t have the infrastructure of party activists and resources,

Lutsevych said

They will only agree to a ceasefire if they are able to continue war by other means,

Lutsevych said

Trump appears to trust Putin,

Lutsevych said

Very few leaders have as much support as Zelenskyy,

Lutsevych said

You can imagine a ‘pro-peace, pro-normalisation’ candidate,

Lutsevych said

I think it is good for democracy. That's the beauty of a solid democracy, you have more than one person potentially running,

said Kellogg

A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left. In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only "TRUMP," and the Trump Administration, can do,

he wrote

But that's only half the story,

Skorkin added, citing polls showing

The appropriate conditions will come, and then I, as someone serving in a government position, will be able to answer such questions,

he told reporters, Ukrainian online publication Strana reported on Wednesday

In the midst of war, it is impossible to predict whether Ukrainians will reelect President Volodymyr Zelensky, as election outcomes depend on multiple factors—including the list of candidates, the success of both information and disinformation campaigns, and the course of the war itself. As of December 2024, 52 percent of Ukrainians trusted President Zelensky."

Davilkanova said

The numbers tell us that out of all the civilian politicians that might be potential candidates, he [Zelensky] is by far the front-runner. That is an undisputed empirical fact. If we put in some very popular generals, they may or may not poll at around the same rating that he does. Either way, he would be in the runoff at the very least. He remains the most popular politician in Ukraine, and any suggestion otherwise is an attempt to manipulate facts on the ground."

Onuch said

If the goal of talks on potential reelection is to suggest that removing him would pave the way for a weak or pro-Russian candidate—one willing to legitimize Ukraine's territorial dismemberment, undermine its future as an independent democracy, and ultimately facilitate its subjugation to Russia—this is a grave miscalculation. If, through information manipulation, a candidate who embraces this path were to gain power and attempt its implementation, it would likely result in yet another revolution."

She added

Suggesting that it is even remotely possible to hold an election when there hasn't been a cessation of violence, and that a peace has been reached—it's not possible to hold an election safely or even logistically."

She also

U.S. & Russia propose that a 'peace deal' be contingent on elections in Ukraine. Elections should take place, but not until a comprehensive agreement is concluded. It appears that Trump and Russia want elections to take place before a comprehensive agreement is concluded. This is pathetic, as Russia would do everything in their power to interfere in that election."

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Brian Krassenstein, a writer and media personality, wrote

In summary: Russia, a dictatorship that hasn't held meaningful elections in multiple decades, wants Ukraine to hold elections while at war to get rid of Zelensky. Then Ukraine is supposed to concede territory and give up NATO membership while Russia rearms. Did I get that right?"

Marcel Dirsus, a political scientist and author, wrote on X

We have a situation where we haven't had elections in Ukraine, where we have martial law, essentially martial law in Ukraine, where the leader in Ukraine, I mean, I hate to say it, but he's down at 4-percent approval rating, and where a country has been blown to smithereens (...) you got most of the cities are laying on their sides, the buildings are collapsed, it looks like a massive demolition site."

In a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on February 18, the president said