Zelensky: How Can Ukraine Hold Elections With 9 Million People Abroad?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has questioned how the country could conduct elections while 9 million Ukrainians remain abroad and others live in territories controlled by Russian forces.

“How do you want to make elections? What elections? How can you make elections with the 9 million people who are abroad? Nine million. Usually, 500,000 people abroad voted,” Zelensky said.

His comments focused on practical questions about participation, supervision, and access to voting during the war.

Millions Outside Ukraine

Zelensky contrasted the number of Ukrainians currently abroad with participation levels in previous elections, saying that typically about 500,000 people outside the country had voted.

He argued that the scale of the current displacement creates a substantially different logistical challenge.

Zelensky also questioned how Ukrainians in Russian-occupied areas could participate.

“And what do you do with the people who are living in occupied territories? Will they vote? How will they vote? Who will control their voting? I mean, there are Russian soldiers there. How do you do all these things?”

Zelensky Draws 9/11 Parallel

The Ukrainian president also compared Russia’s actions against Ukraine with the September 11 attacks in the U.S., pointing to the scale of destruction across his country.

“You feel this terrible, absolute terrorism, terrible terrorism on 11th September, 25 years ago, on 11th September,” he said.

Zelensky said Ukraine was experiencing destruction across a much larger geographical area, citing damaged homes, schools and other buildings.

He also questioned engagement with those responsible for such attacks, referring to the U.S. response following September 11.

Putin and the Cost of War

Separately, Zelensky argued that ending the war now would not amount to a Russian victory.

“If Putin stops now, it is not a victory. It’s really not a victory. It’s absolutely the opposite thing for them,” he said.

Zelensky claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin was concerned about the domestic consequences of soldiers returning from the front, pointing to the Wagner episode as a precedent.

He also said Ukraine estimates that Russia will lose 300,000 people killed this year.

According to Zelensky’s calculation, that would bring Russian deaths to 1 million over five years of war.