Part 4/10:
Polls consistently indicate that the majority of Ukrainians, approximately 60% according to a November 2024 IRI poll, prefer to postpone elections until after the war rather than conduct them under martial law. This sentiment shapes a key part of the debate surrounding the negotiations, presenting Ukraine’s leadership with a dilemma as they balance popular opinion against international pressures for a resolution. This matter has garnered attention in both Ukrainian media and on Russian state-funded networks, which argue Zelensky’s reluctance to hold elections reflects a lack of true democratic principles.